'Godfather of Ska' honoured with blue plaque

Laurel Aitken is known as the "Godfather of Ska"

Laurel Aitken, known as the "Godfather of Ska", has been honoured with a blue plaque for his work in music.

The plaque was placed at The Donkey, a live music venue in Leicester, where Aitken lived with his wife Sandra from 1970 until his death at the age of 78 in 2005 from a heart attack.

A celebration to unveil the plaque was held at the venue in Welford Road on Saturday, with Aitken's daughter and granddaughter both in attendance.

Despite being born in Cuba, Aitken was a pioneer of Jamaican music, having moved to the island aged 10, and was at the forefront of the ska movement.

Ska is a musical genre that evolved from an early form of Jamaican rhythm and blues that combines elements of traditional Caribbean music.

Born Oliver Stephens, Aitken's early singing career saw him entertaining tourists, singing calypso for the Jamaican Tourist Board at Kingston Harbour.

His first recording was the 1957 single Roll Jordan Roll, his first major success.

He moved to London in 1960 where the demand for Jamaican music was growing.

As well as appealing to the African and West Indian population in the UK, he also drew in skinheads and mods.

He performed in various local nightclubs and restaurants, including the Costa Brava and The Donkey.

Aitken went on to live in Vancouver Road, in the St Matthews area of Leicester, where a heritage panel now stands in commemoration of his life.

Amber Stephens and her mother Karlene Stephens both attended the unveiling of the plaque

Amber Stephens, Aitken's granddaughter, was present at the unveiling and said she was "very proud".

She added: "It's lovely to see everyone outside, the band's playing, which he performed with before.

"It's lovely that so many people are out here looking at the blue plaque."

Karlene Stephens, Aitken's daughter, said there was "loads of music in the house" while growing up.

She described him as "a good father" who "deserved" the blue plaque.

Aitken is described as a ska pioneer on his plaque

Kerem Cetindamar, digital and multimedia manager for Leicester Museums and Galleries, said the plaque's location was chosen because The Donkey "was somewhere that [Aitken] used to come as a regular".

"He used to come and do jam sessions with his friends," he added.