Leslie Kong

Well supported

Leslie Kong (1933-1971) was a Chinese-Jamaican producer who ran the Beverley's shop and record label on Orange Street, Kingston. Encouraged by a young Jimmy Cliff in 1961, he launched Beverley's and recorded Bob Marley's first singles ("Judge Not," "One Cup of Coffee") in 1962. Known for polished, accessible productions, he scored major international hits with Desmond Dekker ("Israelites," "007 Shanty Town"), the Pioneers, the Melodians and Toots and the Maytals before his death from a heart attack in 1971.