THE BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY:: BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRO-JAMAICAN " LESTER STERLING OD " ALSO KNOWN AS LESTER "SKA" STERLING OR MR VERSATILE - IS A JAMAICAN TRUMPET AND SAXOPHONE PLAYER : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

Friday 7 March 2014

BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRO-JAMAICAN " LESTER STERLING OD " ALSO KNOWN AS LESTER "SKA" STERLING OR MR VERSATILE - IS A JAMAICAN TRUMPET AND SAXOPHONE PLAYER : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Lester Sterling OD born 31 January 1936 also known as Lester "Ska" Sterling or Mr. Versatile, is a Jamaican trumpet and saxophone player.

Biography

Like many Jamaican musicians of his generation, Sterling attended the Alpha Boys School. Originally a trumpeter, he is predominantly known as a player of alto saxophone. He was a member of the Jamaica Military Band in the 1950's and played trumpet in Val Bennett's band in 1957. In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Sterling played regularly as a studio musician, along with most of the future Skatalites members, in bands such as Clue J & His Blues Blasters.

Sterling is a founding member of The Skatalites (playing alto saxophone), one of only two (the other is Doreen Shaffer) still alive. After The Skatalites originally disbanded in 1965, Sterling played with Byron Lee & the Dragonaires and recorded several solo singles for the London-based producer "Sir" Clancy Colli His debut solo album, Bangarang, was released on Pama Records in 1969. Sterling rejoined the Skatalites when they reformed in 1975. The band have continued on and off with a varying line-up since, and Sterling is the only founding member still with the band.

Sterling was awarded the Order of Distinction in 1998 in recognition of his contribution to Jamaican music.

Sterling's brother is keyboard player Keith Sterling.