Ken Stewart (9)

American Jazz and Ska keyboarder, with The Skatalites off and on since 1988, and has also served as their manager, with Xaymaca Entertainment. Ken Stewart started playing music when he was 4. His father is a tuba player and his mom plays the piano. Joining the choir at age 7, he took piano lessons from age 8-13 focused mostly on classical, traditional jazz and ragtime and began playing rock and blues around age 11. Ken fell in love with jazz fusion in the early 70’s but did not pursue a musical career and instead studied Occupational Therapy and went on to work in the independent living movement. In 1986 Ken started playing in Boston-based reggae bands and in 1987 he met Lloyd Knibb from The Skatalites who began playing with him in a Rhode Island based band call Wilson Blue and The Blue Roots. In Feb 1988 Ken auditioned for The Skatalites and has been performing with them off and on ever since. He has taken some long hiatuses in between to work with other artists including legendary drummer Winston Grennan’s Ska Rocks Band featuring famed guitarist Lin Taiit. In 1995 Ken cofounded the band Dion Knibb and The Agitators who quickly became on of Boston’s best bands and served as backing band for many Jamaican singers coming to the Boston area such as Ken Boothe, Alton Ellis, Hopeton Lewis, Phyllis Dillon, Pat Kelly, Tinga and Roman Stewart, Eddie Lovett and Judy Emmanuelle. In 1998 he rejoined The Skatalites and in 2000 Ken became manager of the band and has helped them continue their legacyuntil very recently turning that role over to a management team so that he can focus more on playing the music. When he is not touring with The Skatalites he can often be found playing with the Rhode Island band Soulshot, which also features his old friend Dion Knibb.