Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe (Kenneth George Boothe, b. 1948): Kingston singer billed as Mr Rock Steady. Studio One hits “The Train Is Coming” and “Moving Away”; “Everything I Own” (UK No. 1, 1974, Trojan).
Stranger & Ken
Kenneth George Boothe was born on 22 March 1948 in Denham Town, Kingston. In 1963 he and Stranger Cole passed an audition at Duke Reid's studio with "Uno Dos Tres", and as Stranger & Ken they released singles through 1965, including "Hush Baby" and "World's Fair".
Mr Rock Steady at Studio One
Boothe signed to Coxsone Dodd's Studio One in 1966. "The Train Is Coming", backed by The Wailers, and a ska version of "You're No Good" with The Soulettes were immediate hits. Dodd promoted him as Mr Rock Steady. "Moving Away" (1967 to 1968) has been widely covered and reworked, with versions by Dennis Brown, U-Roy and Half Pint. He toured the UK in 1967 with Alton Ellis.
Leslie Kong
In 1970 Boothe moved to Leslie Kong's Beverley's label and scored with "Freedom Street", written by B.B. Seaton of the Gaylads, and "Why Baby Why".
Everything I Own
Working with producer Lloyd Charmers, Boothe recorded David Gates's "Everything I Own" for Trojan Records. It reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on 26 October 1974 and stayed there for three weeks. The follow-up, "Crying Over You", reached UK No. 11.
Later work and honours
Boothe also recorded the album Everything I Own (1974) with Charmers for Trojan, and his Studio One singles were gathered on the LP Mr Rock Steady. "The Train Is Coming" was re-recorded with Shaggy for the 1995 film Money Train. Jamaica awarded Boothe the Order of Distinction in 2003 for his contribution to the country's music.
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Discography
Studio albums 23
Collaborative albums 8
Compilations 11
Albums on Breakbeat Archive
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![Ken Boothe - "Moving Away" [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/38b81rm0DQw/hqdefault.jpg)
![Ken Boothe - "You're No Good" [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aKQls-ulYU4/hqdefault.jpg)















































