Ernest Ranglin

Ernest Ranglin

Ernest Ranglin O.D. (born 19 June 1932, Manchester, Jamaica) is a Jamaican guitarist and composer. Best known for his session work at the famed Studio One, Ranglin helped give birth to the ska genre in the late 1950s. Some credit Ranglin with the invention of the core style of guitar play (sometimes known as "scratching") found in nearly all ska music.

Ranglin played on many classic Jamaican recordings, performing with artists such as Theophilus Beckford, Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Prince Buster, The Skatalites, Bob Marley and Eric Dean's Orchestra. He has also explored other styles of music, notably blending jazz, mento and reggae.