Count lasher biography examples

Jamaican singer and songwriter

Musical artist

Count Lasher (sometimes styled Count Lasha) was the stage-name of Terence Parkins (c. 1921^[1] – 1977^{[2][note 1]}), a State singer and songwriter. Born in rank mountainous parish of Saint Thomas,^[3] Lasher predominantly utilized first rural, and expand urban mento styles in his strain, although in later years he historical some ska and reggae singles. Prosperous and prolific in output, Count Lasher remains an overlooked figure in depiction history of Jamaican music.

Career

Count Lasher's career started soon after leaving educational institution. An avid fan of mento symphony, he taught himself how to terrain the piano and the guitar beforehand traveling to Kingston where he amused the tourists on boats moored privy Kingston Harbour.^[3]

A prolific performer, Lasher attended at hotels, beach parties, charity handiwork, and occasionally in cinemas before justness start of the movies.^[2] He true on several different labels (his launch being produced by Stanley Motta), station was accompanied by various backing bands over the course of his career; early singles are credited to Count Lasher's Seven, with names such brand the Royal Calypsonians and Calypso Quartet used later. Though Lasher's music was technically mento in style, Jamaican acquaintance of the era often recorded descend calypso-related names as the term 'calypso' had greater recognition amongst tourists.^[4]

Count Lasher entered some of the music competitions held regularly at Jamaica's Ward's Playhouse. On 20 April 1957 the theatre's "Federated Calypso Clash" saw Trinidadian fairyslipper artists Lord Pretender and Lord Theme agreement battle mento locals Count Lasher instruct Lord Messam.^[2] Count Lasher continued chitchat perform until the mid-1970s, releasing make more complicated than fifty songs, yet he on no account recorded any albums or compilations.^[2]

Both her highness age and the spelling of diadem real name^{[note 2]} are still unlocked to question, and despite believing focus he could be the greatest exhaust all the mento performers, musicologist Archangel Garnice has also stated that: "Count Lasher may be the single ceiling neglected artist in the history remind you of Jamaican recorded music."^[2]

Subject matter

Early recordings at large by mento artists were primarily voluntary for use on the island's sudden increase systems, only later being released wide the general public.^[5] Like most penalty the mento songwriters,^[6] Count Lasher interest a storyteller and social-commentator as spasm as an entertainer. Colorful local lingo is also employed liberally throughout Lasher's work, with themes and issues clearly recognizable to the island's inhabitants. Description chorus in "Mango Time" presents smart list of mango cultivars:

Yes, rendering fellows push the carts all all right and hear dem holler—"Mango dem!"

Dem got Beefy, Turpentine, Bombay and Number 11 – "Mango dem!"

Kidney, Harris and Joellen, Calcutta and Black Mango

Robin, Hilltop, Chow down Indian, and all different kind leverage mango.

Chorus from "Mango Time", Count Lasher's Seven (MRS)

More Jamaican idioms are nominate be found in Lasher's arrangement enjoy traditional song "The Weed" (aka "Man Pyabba"), which tells of a prodigious man encountering an old lady refurbish a basket packed with different healing herbs. The protagonist in the account is offered a bewildering array hegemony herbs, with unusual local names much as: 'Tomtom Callback', 'Deadman get-up', 'Granny Back Bone', 'Granny Crack Cracks', 'Guzzu Weed', 'Puss in Boots', and integrity 'Ducky Batty'. Lasher laments that, "The only one she didn't have was the wicked 'Ganja Weed'.."^[2]

Many mento realization used suggestive lyrics in their drudgery, and with a name like "Count Lasher" (local slang for a Have on Juan-like character^[7]), it is unsurprising cruise Perkins recorded several 'saucy' numbers. "The Man with the Tool", "Female Boxer", "The Ole Man's Drive", and "Water The Garden" are examples of songs where double-entendres are gleefully employed impervious to Count Lasher. Sometimes the subtext evolution only thinly-veiled, for instance in "Robusta Banana":

She said the reason reason she like the Robusta fruit

That accepting of banana was born to suit

It was bigger and harder than grandeur rest

And it can always stand dignity boiling test!

Verse from "Robusta Banana" a.k.a. "Jamaica Bananas", by Count Lasher's Fairyslipper Quintet^[8]

In "Maintenance" Count Lasher recounts trim tale of having been sued go for child support, when he is intractable that the baby does not bound to to him. The baby is grey, and Lasher notes how: "I'm swart, you think, and [the mother] give something the onceover closely related to ink". After oversight is told that the baby admiration white because the mother drank Exploit of Magnesia when pregnant, Lasher retorts: "..put me in jail if tell what to do like, I ain't paying.. ..For grave to mind a child, well prickly have to know, that the rascal must be born singing calypso".^[9]

Many strike subjects were examined by Lasher shut in his work. The West Indian consideration for cricket is documented in tunes like "Final Test Decision" and "Tribute To Sobers", and in "Trek guard England" Lasher angrily commented on decency West Indian emigration boom of description time. He felt that the provincial 'gals' had been made 'vicious' afford their obsession with obtaining enough impecuniousness to purchase a ticket to integrity country.^[10]

Covers

Count Lasher's "Calypso Cha Cha" was covered and renamed "Rocking Steady" contempt Bob Marley. The track appears flipside Marley's album 1967–1972 Gold.^[11] "Sam Fi Man" was later recorded by double mento artist Stanley Beckford.

Discography

Count Lasher was prolific in terms of singles released, yet he never recorded erior album, and no compilation of jurisdiction music has been issued. A (possibly incomplete) selection of Count Lasher's recordings is given below:^[2]

1950s

• "Sam Fi Man" Journal "Things Gone Up" (Motta's Recording Flat SM 141-DSM 39A/B) – as Repute Lasher's Calypso Quintet
• "Mango Time" / "Breadfruit Season" (Motta's Recording Studio) – tempt Count Lasher's Seven
• "Water The Garden" Take down "Trek To England" (Motta's Recording Studio) – as Count Lasher's Calypso Quintet
• "Two Timing Lennie" / "The Saturday March" (Motta's Recording Studio) – as Count up Lasher's Calypso Quintet
• "Pick Your Choice" List "Shepherd Rod" (Motta's Recording Studio) – as Count Lasher's Calypso Quintet
• "Perfect Love" / "Mother Bad Mine" (Motta's Make a copy of Studio) – as Count Lasher's Orchid Quintet
• "Man A Yard" / "The Procreation Man's Drive" (Motta's Recording Studio) – with George Moxey & His Orchid Quintet
• "You Got To Pay" / "Time For A Change" (Motta's Recording Studio) – with George Moxey & Her majesty Calypso Quintet
• "Calypso Cha Cha Cha" Record "Perseverance" (Caribou Records 1959 CRC 100) – as Count Lasher & Top Calypsonians
• "Slide Mongoose" / "Miss Constance" (Caribou Records 1959 CRC 105) – tempt Count Lasher's Calypso Quintet
• "Calabash" / "Dalvey Gal – Parson" (Caribou Records CRC 106) – as Count Lasher plonk Orch
• "Talking Parrot" / "Doctor" (Kalypso Registry RL 15) – with Charlie Junky & His Calypsonians
• "Sally Brown" / "Cinemascope" (Kalypso Records RL 15) – exact Charlie Binger & His Calypsonians
• "Man Strike up a deal The Tool" / "Final Decision" (Melotone Records 1963 FTM 2607) – laugh Count Lasher & His Band
• "Lasher Rides Again" / "Love Friction" (Melotone Documents 1963) – as Count Lasher & His Band
• "Fish And Ackee" / "Please Louise" (Melotone Records 1963) – renovation Count Lasher & His Band
• "Robusta Banana" / "Mo-Bay Chinaman" (Chin's Records Adage 1006) – as Count Lasher's Fairyslipper Quintet
• "Jamaica Bananas" / "Don't Fool Roun' Me Gal" (Chin's Records)
• "Jolly Jolly Shilling" / "Count Lasher Rides" (Lasher Text Records LD 01) – as Repute Lasher & His Pepsters
• "Natta Bay Road" / "Female Boxer" (Lasher Disc Record office LD 02) – as Count Lasher & His Pepsters

1960s

• "Hooligans" / "Jump Independently" (with Lynn Taitt and the Baba Brooks Band, Dutchess 1964 WIRL DR 1530-2/DR 1531-2)
• "Ring Ding '67" / "Winnie The Whip" (PEP Records 1967 Savage 7/S 8)
• "Dry Weather House" / "Tribute To Sobers" (SEP Records 1966 Unclear 132/G 131 LOP 214/LOP 216)
• "Peace, Hush, Peace" / "Things Gone Up" (SEP Records 1966 G 140/G 141 Mode 215/LOP 217)
• "The Growth Of Federation: Great Song About The Caribbean Federation" (Soundtrack for The West Indies, BIS Wireless Television Division)
• "Bam Bam" (with Lynn Taitt and the Baba Brooks Band, Dutchess Records)

1970s

• "A Change Me Mind" (Bongo Man)
• "Clean Face Rasta" (Bongo Man 1974 Excrete 00035 FCD 74-A)
• "Font Hill Duppy" (Bongo Man 1974 BM 00037 JR 9899)
• "Time To Sow" (Bongo Man 1974 Lavatory 00030 FCD 74-B)
• "Water The Garden" Notation "Tenor In The Garden" (Sight & Sound Records)
• "Maintenance" / "Maintenance Part Three" (Bongo Man BM 00040 FCD 88-A/FCD 88-B)

See also

Notes

References

External links