Leslie Kong tricolor

Everyone knows Bob Marley, and millions know of Jimmy Cliff, but far fewer know about Leslie Kong, the Chinese Jamaican recording engineer and producer who really helped create the 1960s ska, rocksteady, and reggae sound.

Kong and Cliff teamed up to form Beverly’s record label. Cliff was the first artist, and also acted as an A&R person. One of the early talents they recorded was Bob Marley. He also got Toots and the Maytals and Desmond Dekker on his label.

An early investor in Island Records, he helped export ska and reggae to the UK, where it would inspire punk and New Wave, as well as lead to the formation of numerous English ska bands that would go on to cover songs that Kong had recorded.

For these reasons, above, we think Leslie Kong should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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