Lester Sterling

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Lester Sterling (January 31, 1936) aka Lester "Ska" Sterling or Mr. Versatile) is a Jamaican trumpet and saxophone player (alto saxophone). He started his career as a trumpet player for Val Bennett's band in 1957 and was also a member of Byron Lee's Dragonaries (on trumpet). A founding member of The Skatalites. He is commonly overshadowed by well-known band members such as Tommy McCook, Jackie Mittoo or Don Drummond. Sterling is the only original member who is still a part of the band. Raised in the Kingston Jamaica neighborhood of Allman Town, Lester started at St. Ann’s school before he entered the Alpha Boys School, where he was a student for 10 years. All four of the Sterling brothers went to Alpha and all have enjoyed careers as professional musicians. Gladston on sax in Nassau Bahamas and Roy on trumpet and Keith on keyboard in Jamaica. Keith has played with Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and currently is with The Wailers band. Lester started on trumpet in 1945, inspired by his friend Frederick Brown who was in the Alpha Band. The Bandmaster at the time was Reuben Delgado and, "Delgado was in charge of all of we", Lester recalls. No easy task, melding a band out of a school peopled with chronic truants and youth placed there for a variety of indiscipline. But under Delgado’s instruction, four future Skatalites blossomed. Shortly before Lester departed from Alpha, he and classmate Karl "Cannonball" Bryan joined Stanley Hedlam’s band. Then there were stints in club bands s

top songs

albums

Bangarang

Trojan Instrumentals Box Set Disc 1

Bangarang / Forest Gate Rock

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Cool, Cool Rocksteady

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Trojan Rocksteady Box Set (Disc 2)

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The Best of the Skatalites

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Trojan Presents: Boss Reggae

Trojan Sixties Box Set

Trojan Rocksteady Box Set

Studio One Scorcher

Soul Voyage / Tribute To A King

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Trojan Rocksteady Box Set [Disc 2]

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