'Godfather of Ska' is honoured with plaque at venue

COUNCIL HAS REPLACED THE PREVIOUS PLATE WHICH HAD GONE MISSING

- By JASMINE SIDDON

THE "Godfather of Ska" Laurel Aitken has been honoured with a blue plaque at a Leicester music venue.

Laurel, who lived in the city with his wife, Sandra, until his death at 78 in 2005, has been recognised for the significant impact he had on contemporary music.

The plaque has been installed at The Donkey, in Welford Road, which was one of the many city venues where Laurel performed, and jammed with other musicians.

Ska originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and blends sounds of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz, as well as rhythm and blues.