Ken Khouri


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Born 1917 in Kingston/Jamaica in a Lebanese/Cuban family.

Ken Khouri was a furniture salesman before he became a Jamaican music industry pioneer after he bought recording equipment in Miami in the 1940's. Lacking a studio, Khouri traveled through clubs and recorded Calypso music, and then sent the master to the UK to get pressed, since there was no record manufacturing in Jamaica at the time.

In 1947 he built up a studio (Records Limited) which would become Federal Records Studio, which was for a long time the only recording facility in Jamaica.

In the early 1950s he finally bought a pressing plant in California, being the first man in Jamaica to press records.
On his two labels, Times Music and Federal Records (3) , Khouri released Boogie, RnB and Calypso records; also he had Jamaica distribution contract with Mercury Records. Later, when Ska and Rocksteady set in, he recorded the genre's greats like Prince Buster and Hopeton Lewis. He was also the owner of KK Mastering Labs, Inc. which was first located in Jamaica before relocating to Miami, FL.

In 1981, Ken Khouri sold his studio and pressing plant to Bob Marley's Tuff Gong record label. Khouri died on 20th September 2003 in Kingston

His second-born son Paul Khouri is a producer and mastering engineer based in Florida.

ALBUMS


Various
Roots Of Funk (1947-1962)
2015, 3xCD, Comp, Frémeaux & Associés, ,
Afro-Cuban/Bayou Funk/Boogaloo/Cha-Cha/Cubano/Descarga/Funk/Jazz-Funk/Mambo/Son/Latin Jazz/Soul
Eddie Perkins* & Patsy*
Take These Chains From My Heart / I Am Blue
2014, 7", Kentone Records
Ernest Ranglin
Jazz Jamaica
2014
Various
Before Reggae 1951-1962 (Jamaican Mento - Boogie - Rhythm & Blues - Doo Wop - Twist - Rock'n'Roll & Ska)
2013, 4xCD, Comp, NDH Music, ,
Mento/Calypso/Rhythm & Blues/Doo Wop/Ska/Rock & Roll
Various
Mento, Not Calypso! The Original Sound Of Jamaica
2013, 2xCD, Comp, Fantastic Voyage, ,
Mento
The Sharks (2) & The Federal Studio Orchestra
You Made Me Warm
2011, 7", RE, Kentone Records
Various
Trojan Presents: Mento & R&B - 40 Roots Of Reggae Classics
2011, 2x CD, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Mento
Various
Sounds & Pressure: Mod-Reggae
2010, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Trojan Records, Universal UMC, ,
Reggae/Rhythm & Blues/Ska/Mod/Rocksteady
Various
The Definitive Collection Of Federal Records (1964-1982)
2010, 2xCD, Comp, 17 North Parade, ,
Ska/Rocksteady/Reggae
Toots And The Maytals*
Sweet And Dandy: The Best Of
2008, 2xCD, Comp, Trojan Records, Universal UMC, ,
Ska/Rocksteady/Reggae
Various
Jamaican Skarama
2007
Various
Dip & Fall Back - Classic Jamaican Mento
2006, 2xCD, Comp, Trojan Records, ,
Mento
Various
Take Me To Jamaica - The Story Of Jamaican Mento
2006
Toots & The Maytals
Pressure Drop - The Definitive Collection
2005
Hopeton Lewis
Take It Easy (Rock Steady Reggae)
1999
Various
Authentic Jamaica Ska
1992
Various
Reggae Nights
1984, Vinyl, ,
Reggae-Pop
Johnny Nash
I Can See Clearly Now / Tears On My Pillow
1981
Johnny Nash
The Johnny Nash Collection - 20 Of My Favourite Songs
1977, Vinyl, ,
Soul/Reggae-Pop
Various
Music Express (20 Original Hits, 20 Original Stars)
1975, Vinyl, ,
Vocal
Johnny Nash
Tears On My Pillow (I Can't Take It)
1975
Karl Bryan
Square From Cuba
1975
Johnny Nash
Tears On My Pillow
1975, Vinyl, ,
Soul
Johnny Nash
Tears On My Pillow
1975
Johnny Nash
I Can't Take It Reggae
1974, 7", Wild Flower
Errol Levy
On The Mountain
1973, LP, Album, Federal Records (3), ,
Reggae/Folk/Gospel
Archie Lewis
In Jamaica
1972, LP, Album, Federal Records (3)
Mike Thompson
At The Organ
1972, LP, Album, Federal Records (3)
Lord Laro
Bacchanal '72
1972, LP, Album, FRM, FRM, ,
Calypso
George Moxey
Plays Music For Dancing...
1969, Vinyl,
Ernest Ranglin
Softly With Ranglin
1969,
Eddie Lovette
Too Experienced / You're My Girl
1969
Gaylets*
If You Can't Be Good Be Careful
1968, 7", Single, Big Shot
Archie Lewis
I'll Remember Jamaica With
1968
Gaylets*
Silent River Runs Deep
1968
Ernest Ranglin
Guitar In Ernest
1965
University Esso Steel Orchestra
Pan Goes To College
1964, LP, Album, Starline (3)
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires*
Caribbean Joy Ride
1964
Byron Lee And The Dragonaires
The Many Moods Of Lee
1964
Byron Lee And The Dragonaires
Beautiful Garden
1964
The West India Regiment Steel Band
Panorama
1963
Sir Horace & His Merry Knights
Mambo Jamaica / Morgan's Mento
1958
The Jamaican Calypsonians
Mama No Want No Rice No Pea
1958
Various
Rookum Bine Authentic Calypsos & Mentos
CD, Comp, K & K Records
Lord Lebby
Lord Lebby Sings Favourite Calypsos
LP, Album, Kalypso
Ken Lazarus
Cecelia
7", W/Lbl, Not On Label, ,
Reggae-Pop
Joe McGann Quartet
Ship Ahoy - Favorite Hymns
LP, Album, Starline (3)
Various
Original Reggae Hits Of The 60's & 70's
Johnny Nash
The Reggae Collection

APPEARANCES +


Various
The World Of The Best Of Reggae & Ska
2020, 2xCD, Comp, Music & Melody, ,
Reggae/Ska/Soca
Various
The Global Beats Party (Vintage Pearls)
2016, 2xCD, Comp, Ayia Napa
Glen Brown
Dubble Attack (The Original Pantomine Dee Jay Collection 1972-74)
2016, CD, ,
Roots Reggae/Toasting
Glen Brown
Boat To Progress! (The Original Pantomine Vocal Collection 1970-74)
2016, CD, ,
Roots Reggae
Tommy McCook Dub*
The Sannic Sounds
2015
Various
300% Dynamite!
1999
Pretty Tony
Fix It In The Mix
1983
Bunny Wailer
Rock 'N' Groove
1981
Raw Soul Express
Gimme A Place To Dance / Sanctified Groove
1980, 7", Turnstyle, Turnstyle
Bankie Banx & His Roots & Herbs
Where I And I Abide
1980, LP, Album, Roots Records (5),
Roots Reggae
Israel Vibration
The Same Song
1978
Johnny Nash
Tears On My Pillow / Take Me Back
1975, 7", CBS
Johnny Nash
Tears On My Pillow (I Can't Take It)
1975, Vinyl, ,
Soul
Johnny Nash
Tears On My Pillow / Beautiful Baby
1975
Eddie Lovette
Little Blue Bird
1970, Vinyl,
Eddie Lovette
By-Ooh-Paooh-Pa-Pa-Ya / You're My Girl
1969
Ranglin* Presents The Zodiacs
Ranglin Presents The Zodiacs
1966, LP, Album, RCA Victor, ,
Soul/Rocksteady
Prince Buster & The Skatalites / Higgs* & Buster's Group
Mule Train / Saturday Night
1964
Owen And Leon Silvera*, Baba Brooks Band* / Baba Brooks With Don Drummond
I Want My Cock / Dr. Decker
1964, ,
Ska
Lance Haywood*
Lance Haywood At The Half Moon Hotel, Montego Bay
1959, LP, Album, Island Records
Hortense Ellis - Ringo
Ghetto Child
12", Top Ranking International
Michael Bolton
The Hunger
CD, ,
Pop Rock/Soul/AOR/Ballad
Eddie Lovette
Reggae Greats
Vinyl, ,
Reggae
Eddie Lovette
Too Experienced
John Jones
I Who Have Nothing / Think Twice My Love