JENNIFER LARA, one of the reggae scene's most prolific backing vocalists, has died. According to Norma Dodd, widow of Studio One's Clement Dodd and who knew Ms. Lara for over 30 years, she died recently at the Kingston Public Hospital from a stroke.Ms. Lara, who was 52 years old, recorded for most of her career at the famed Studio One studio of producer Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd, recording one album (Studio One Presents Jennifer Lara), which was released during the 1970s. Her first song, Consider Me, was also cut at Studio One during that period.
Mrs. Dodd says she recorded her last song, Ordinary People (a duet with singer/guitarist Dalton Browne), at Studio One two weeks ago. Recently, she toured as a backing vocalist with roots-reggae group The Ethiopians.
Musicologist Bunny Goodison described Ms. Lara as Studio One's "resident harmonist". He added: "She was a very likeable person, got on with everyone."
During her over 35 year association with the studio, Jennifer Lara added backing vocals to the songs of some of the camp's biggest names, including Delroy Wilson, Freddie McGregor, Dennis Brown and Sugar Minott.
Ms. Lara, who is the cousin of Tamlins member Derrick Lara, was first taken to Studio One in 1969 by keyboardist Richard Ace, who was a session musician there.
She is survived by two children, daughter Ika and son Cheka.
Howard Campbell
