Prince Alla

Keith Lorenzo Blake (born 10 May 1950), better known as Prince Alla, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer whose career spans from the late 1960s into the modern digital era. Born in St. Elizabeth and raised in Greenwich Town, Kingston, he began his musical journey as a member of the vocal trio The Leaders, recording for producer Joe Gibbs. After the group disbanded, Blake released his first solo single, “Woo Oh Oh,” but soon stepped away from music as his deepening commitment to the Rastafari movement led him to live within the Prince Emmanuel Edwards camp at Bull Bay. Prince Alla returned to recording in the mid-1970s, emerging as a powerful voice in roots reggae. Working with producers such as Teddy Powell, Bertram Brown of Freedom Sounds, and Tapper Zukie, he released a series of spiritually charged and socially conscious songs that later became genre classics. Tracks like “Sun Is Shining,” “Bucket Bottom,” “Stone,” and “Lot’s Wife” established his reputation as a deeply meditative and prophetic artist, while albums such as Heaven Is My Roof captured the essence of 1970s roots reggae. Renewed interest in his early work during the 1990s led to reissues on the Blood & Fire label, introducing Prince Alla to a new generation of listeners. He continued releasing music through the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, collaborating with figures such as Jah Shaka and Jah Warrior, and becoming a respected presence in the digital roots movement. Since 2010, Prince Alla has toured internationally and remains highly sought after for live performances, recognized worldwide as one of roots reggae’s most authentic and enduring voices.