http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68416&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rssOne of the most important saxophone players in the history of Jamaican music, Roland Alphonso is best known as a member of pioneering Jamaican Ska band the Skatalites. Born in Cuba to a Jamaican mother, he began playing in jazz bands in Kingston during the 1940s. He quickly became known as an arranger and soloist primarily on tenor saxophone, and he also played alto, baritone and flute. Composing instrumental versions of American rhythm and blues hits during the "blue beat" era of the late '50s, he was among the first to develop the up-tempo Jamaican Ska rhythm. Prolific producers such as Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid relied heavily on Alphonso for session work and arrangements. A musician who could play a smooth, smoky ballad or a stomping scorcher with ease, he had the chops to match seasoned jazz soloists. With the Skatalites, Alphonso helped change the direction of Jamaican music, laying the foundation for reggae as we know it. Known as a mischievous man, he continued to play into his '60s until his death in 1998. - Robert LeaverSkaen720Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:09:27 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68416&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss One of the most important saxophone players in the history of Jamaican music, Roland Alphonso is best known as a member of pioneering Jamaican Ska band the Skatalites. Born in Cuba to a Jamaican mother, he began playing in jazz bands in Kingston during the 1940s. He quickly became known as an arranger and soloist primarily on tenor saxophone, and he also played alto, baritone and flute. Composing instrumental versions of American rhythm and blues hits during the "blue beat" era of the late '50s, he was among the first to develop the up-tempo Jamaican Ska rhythm. Prolific producers such as Coxsone Dodd and Duke Reid relied heavily on Alphonso for session work and arrangements. A musician who could play a smooth, smoky ballad or a stomping scorcher with ease, he had the chops to match seasoned jazz soloists. With the Skatalites, Alphonso helped change the direction of Jamaican music, laying the foundation for reggae as we know it. Known as a mischievous man, he continued to play into his '60s until his death in 1998. - Robert Leaver http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28388774&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Sun, 31 May 2009 05:16:20 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 28388774 tra.28388774 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Intensified alb.28380331 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/3/3/5/1685332_170x170.jpg 2009-05-26 00:00:00.0 null true James Bond tra.28388774 184000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28388774&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28388774&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142865&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 22 Oct 1996 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 3142865 tra.3142865 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Ska alb.267860 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/7/1/9/559174_170x170.jpg 2003-01-07 00:00:00.0 1996-10-22 00:00:00.0 true Phoenix City tra.3142865 181000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142865&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142865&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.25634432&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 25634432 tra.25634432 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.0 Clubbed - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack alb.25624777 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/0/8/4/1564804_170x170.jpg 2009-01-25 00:00:00.0 2009-01-25 00:00:00.0 true Determination (Take 4) tra.25634432 169000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.25634432&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.25634432&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2797267&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 6 Aug 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2797267 tra.2797267 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Rough & Tough: The Story of Ska 1960-1966 alb.129897 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/1/4/1/561412_170x170.jpg 2002-08-06 00:00:00.0 2002-08-06 00:00:00.0 true Phoenix City tra.2797267 181000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2797267&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2797267&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2781458&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 16 Jul 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2781458 tra.2781458 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Trojan Mod Reggae Box Set alb.118618 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/1/7/9/1639710_170x170.jpg 2008-04-29 00:00:00.0 2002-07-16 00:00:00.0 true El Pussycat tra.2781458 194000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2781458&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2781458&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28388763&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Sun, 31 May 2009 05:16:21 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 28388763 tra.28388763 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Intensified alb.28380331 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/2/3/3/5/1685332_170x170.jpg 2009-05-26 00:00:00.0 null true El Pussy Cat tra.28388763 173000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28388763&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.28388763&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128628&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Wed, 1 Jan 1992 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2128628 tra.2128628 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years alb.323232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/5/9/9/1659958_170x170.jpg 2006-05-16 00:00:00.0 1992-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Streets Of Gold tra.2128628 172000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128628&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128628&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10960782&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 28 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 10960782 tra.10960782 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Jazz In Jamaica alb.10959907 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/1/2/8/868214_170x170.jpg 2006-03-28 00:00:00.0 2006-03-28 00:00:00.0 true Blackberry Brandy - Original tra.10960782 167000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10960782&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10960782&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128875&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Wed, 1 Jan 1992 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2128875 tra.2128875 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years alb.323232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/5/9/9/1659958_170x170.jpg 2006-05-16 00:00:00.0 1992-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Bongo Tango tra.2128875 201000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128875&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128875&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128876&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Wed, 1 Jan 1992 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2128876 tra.2128876 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years alb.323232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/5/9/9/1659958_170x170.jpg 2006-05-16 00:00:00.0 1992-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Sucu Sucu tra.2128876 134000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128876&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128876&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2757943&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 24 Aug 1999 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2757943 tra.2757943 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 The Trojan Jamaican Hits Box Set alb.110968 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/1/4/9/509416_170x170.jpg 2002-07-23 00:00:00.0 1999-08-24 00:00:00.0 true A Thousand Tons Of Megaton tra.2757943 128000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2757943&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2757943&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142401&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 22 Oct 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 3142401 tra.3142401 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.0 Trojan Jamaican R&B Box Set alb.261367 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/1/9/7/517915_170x170.jpg 2002-10-22 00:00:00.0 2002-10-22 00:00:00.0 false Bridgeview Shuffle tra.3142401 167000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142401&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142401&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142738&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 19 Aug 1997 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 3142738 tra.3142738 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Guns of Navarone/Ride Your Donkey alb.267861 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/7/1/9/559175_170x170.jpg 2003-01-07 00:00:00.0 1997-08-19 00:00:00.0 true El Pussy Cat tra.3142738 197000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142738&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142738&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3293081&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 22 Oct 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 3293081 tra.3293081 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Trojan Jamaican R&B Box Set alb.264090 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/0/5/9/1469505_170x170.jpg 2008-12-02 00:00:00.0 2002-10-22 00:00:00.0 true Bridge View Shuffle tra.3293081 166000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3293081&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3293081&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.5206514&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 20 Apr 2004 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 5206514 tra.5206514 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Blessed Love: Jamaican Producers 1960-1969 alb.5204527 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/1/3/8/628316_170x170.jpg 2004-04-20 00:00:00.0 2004-04-20 00:00:00.0 true Phoenix City tra.5206514 180000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.5206514&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.5206514&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6640446&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 6640446 tra.6640446 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.0 This Is Reggae Music: The Golden Era 1960-1975 alb.6629821 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/1/2/8/668217_170x170.jpg 2004-11-15 00:00:00.0 2004-11-15 00:00:00.0 false Phoenix City tra.6640446 181000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6640446&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6640446&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6624842&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Fri, 5 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 6624842 tra.6624842 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.0 Trojan Sixties Box Set alb.6596988 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/0/4/5/665407_170x170.jpg 2004-11-05 00:00:00.0 2004-11-05 00:00:00.0 false A Whiter Shade Of Pale tra.6624842 203000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6624842&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6624842&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6624872&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Fri, 5 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 6624872 tra.6624872 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.0 Trojan Sixties Box Set alb.6596988 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/0/4/5/665407_170x170.jpg 2004-11-05 00:00:00.0 2004-11-05 00:00:00.0 false Guantanamera tra.6624872 195000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6624872&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.6624872&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17526851&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 28 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 17526851 tra.17526851 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 The Skatalites - Musical Communion alb.17524254 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/6/4/2/7/1157246_170x170.jpg 2006-03-28 00:00:00.0 2006-03-28 00:00:00.0 true James Bond - Original tra.17526851 184000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17526851&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.17526851&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128854&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Wed, 1 Jan 1992 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2128854 tra.2128854 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years alb.323232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/5/9/9/1659958_170x170.jpg 2006-05-16 00:00:00.0 1992-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Old Fowl Ska tra.2128854 130000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128854&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128854&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128877&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Wed, 1 Jan 1992 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2128877 tra.2128877 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Ska Bonanza: The Studio One Ska Years alb.323232 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/5/9/9/1659958_170x170.jpg 2006-05-16 00:00:00.0 1992-01-01 00:00:00.0 true 20.75 tra.2128877 155000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128877&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2128877&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2786962&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 16 Jul 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 2786962 tra.2786962 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set alb.142086 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/0/2/0/510205_170x170.jpg 2002-06-25 00:00:00.0 2002-07-16 00:00:00.0 true Zapatoo The Tiger tra.2786962 156000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2786962&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2786962&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142291&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Wed, 13 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 3142291 tra.3142291 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Independent Jamaica: Songs Of Freedom From The Treasure Isle alb.261366 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/1/9/7/517914_170x170.jpg 2002-10-22 00:00:00.0 2002-11-13 00:00:00.0 true Back Beat tra.3142291 153000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142291&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3142291&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24750793&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Fri, 5 Dec 2008 13:11:02 -0800 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 24750793 tra.24750793 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Trojan Instrumentals Box Set alb.24750218 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/5/4/1/1591459_170x170.jpg 2008-12-02 00:00:00.0 null true El Torro tra.24750793 200000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24750793&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24750793&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24720318&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss Ska Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Roland Alphonso on Rhapsody Online 24720318 tra.24720318 Roland Alphonso art.68416 0.99 Reggae Anthology: Randy's 50th Anniversary (1960-1971) alb.24700155 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/9/0/5/1495095_170x170.jpg 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 2008-10-28 00:00:00.0 true Blow Roland Blow tra.24720318 147000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24720318&variant=play&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24720318&variant=data&rws=%2Froland-alphonso%2Ftop-tracks.rss