Prince Alla

Prince Alla

Also known as: Keith Blake, Prince Allah, Ras Allah

Keith Lorenzo Blake (born 10 May 1950), better known as Prince Alla (sometimes Prince Allah or Ras Allah) is a Jamaican roots reggae singer whose career began in the 1960s, and has continued with a string of releases into the 2000s.

Biography
Born in St. Elizabeth, and raised in Greenwich Town, Kingston, Jamaica, Blake's career began in the vocal group The Leaders with Milton Henry and Roy Palmer, who recorded three tracks for producer Joe Gibbs in the late 1960s. When The Leaders broke up, Blake continued to work with Gibbs, who issued his debut solo release, "Woo Oh Oh". Blake had been interested in the Rastafari movement since he had a vision as a child, and in 1969, Blake's Rastafarian faith saw him get heavily involved in Jamaica's camp community, withdrawing from the music scene and living in Prince Emmanuel Edwards' camp at Bull Bay. He re-entered the music scene in the mid-1970s, releasing a single "Born a Fighter" for producer Teddy Powell, before working with Bertram Brown's Freedom Sounds, with a series of recordings, now under the name Prince Alla, that are now regarded as roots reggae classics, such as "Sun Is Shining", "Bucket Bottom", "Lot's Wife", and "Stone". He also recorded for producer Tapper Zukie, including the album Heaven Is My Roof. Continuing interest in his work saw the release of two albums of material from the 1970s on Blood & Fire records, Only Love Can Conquer and I Can Hear The Children Singing, which brought his work to a new audience. Alla continued to release records occasionally through the 1980s and 1990s, including an album with Jah Shaka. Alla has continued to be in demand with digital roots producers, and has released several albums with the likes of Jah Warrior. Since 2010 Prince Alla is touring the world with Rockers Agency and stays in popular demand for live performances across the globe.

Credits & Appearances (7)

Production
Producer 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Only Love Can Conquer Prince Alla Only Love Can Conquer BAFCD 014 CD Blood And Fire 1976-79 1996
Musicians
Vocals 5
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Only Love Can Conquer Prince Alla Only Love Can Conquer BAFCD 014 CD Blood And Fire 1976-79 1996
I Can Hear The Children Singing Prince Alla & Junior Ross I Can Hear The Children Singing BAFCD 040 CD Blood And Fire 1976-79 2002
Heaven Is My Roof Prince Alla Heaven Is My Roof TZ 005 LP New Star 1979 1978
The Best Of Prince Alla Prince Alla The Best Of Prince Alla LP Freedom Sounds 1980 1980
King Of The Road Prince Alla King Of The Road LP 002 LP Ital International 1982 1982

Also Appears On (27)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Dubwise & Otherwise Various Artists Dubwise & Otherwise BFCDS 903 CD Blood And Fire 2000
Old Time Something The Twinkle Brothers Old Time Something NGCD 561 CD Twinkle 1964-74 2002
Explosive Rock Steady Various Artists Explosive Rock Steady DBCDD 082 CD Doctor Bird 1967-68 2021
Get On Up Various Artists Get On Up CDTRL 390 CD Trojan 1967-68 1998
Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years Various Artists Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years VPCD 4151 CD 17 North Parade 1967-73 2009
In Memoriam Various Artists In Memoriam JGECD 012 CD Crazy Joe 1968-80 2008
First Class Rock Steady Various Artists First Class Rock Steady VPCD 4205 CD 17 North Parade 196X 2016
Trojan Producer Series Box Set Various Artists Trojan Producer Series Box Set TRBCD 010 CD Trojan 196X-7X 1999
2 Heavyweight Various Artists 2 Heavyweight BAFCD 017 CD Blood And Fire 1973-79 1997
Corner Stone Church Of Music Various Artists Corner Stone Church Of Music none LP Corner Stone 1978-81
Corner Stone Presents Untold Reggae History Various Artists Corner Stone Presents Untold Reggae History none LP Corner Stone 1978-82
Kingston 13 All Stars Various Artists Kingston 13 All Stars none LP Corner Stone 1978-83
Reggae All Star Various Artists Reggae All Star LP Freedom Sounds 1979 1979
Top Ranking DJ Session Vol 1&2 Various Artists Top Ranking DJ Session Vol 1&2 DBCDD 110 CD Doctor Bird 1979-80 2022
Ethiopian King Various Artists Ethiopian King LP Freedom Sounds 197X 1979
Joe Gibbs Revive 45's Vol I Various Artists Joe Gibbs Revive 45's Vol I RGCD 13 CD Rocky One 197X
Lovers Rock Phillip Fraser & George Fullwood Lovers Rock LP Freedom Sounds 197X
Rootsman Connection Tapper Zukie & Friends Rootsman Connection KSCD 14 CD Jamaican Recordings 197X 2008
Run It Red Various Artists Run It Red BAFCD 047 CD Blood And Fire 197X 2005
Singerman Various Artists Singerman BFCDS 906 CD Blood And Fire 197X 2007
King Jammy - A Man And His Music Vol 1 Various Artists King Jammy - A Man And His Music Vol 1 CD 79201 CD RAS 197X-8X
Reggae Classics - Serious Selections Vol 1 Various Artists Reggae Classics - Serious Selections Vol 1 CD Rewind Selecta 197X-8X
Scorchers From The Mighty Two Various Artists Scorchers From The Mighty Two VPCD 4130 CD VP 197X-8X 2008
Vintage Various Artists 70s-80s Various Artists Vintage Various Artists 70s-80s none LP Corner Stone 1981-84
Cornerstone Connection Vol 2 Various Artists Cornerstone Connection Vol 2 none LP Corner Stone 1982-84
Roots Man Connection Various Artists Roots Man Connection TZ 006 LP Stars 198X
Roots Rasta Party Various Artists Roots Rasta Party SKCD 018 CD Silver Kamel 198X 2003
7 albums
7 credits
8 labels
1978 - 2002