Ernest Ranglin, the legendary guitarist and arranger whose session work at famed Studio One and Island Records helped give birth to the ska genre in the late 1950s makes a rare Stateside appearance at Joe’s Pub , New York this weekend on June 7 and 8. 

In the late ‘50s and early ‘60s Jamaican music was in a state of flux, the traditional mento style was waning on the island while popular music became influenced by the pervading sounds of American R&B.  It was during this period that Ranglin recorded “Shuffling Bug,” widely regarded as the first example of ska, the shuffle rhythm which exaggerated the 'jump beat' heard on New Orleans' R&B records of the Fifties. Ska became the bedrock of Jamaican popular music, leading to rock steady, reggae, ragga and all the innovations the island has brought into the global mainstream.

Ranglin began performing while still in his teens in Jamaica and the Bahamas.  He gained international notice in 1964, however, when producer Chris Blackwell (founder of Island Records) brought him and Millie Small to London, England.   While there, Ranglin became resident guitarist for nine months at Ronnie Scott's jazz nightclub playing with top jazz artists of the time.  It was during this period that he and Small recorded “My Boy Lollipop” which became the first Jamaican song to achieve international success. 

Ticket prices for the concerts are $30 and the shows begin at 11:30pm.

For dinner reservations and ticket information call 212-539-8778.