[2] Rocksteady later mixed with Jamaican mento, a genre in which Khouri also had a pioneering role, leading to the creation of reggae music.
He was born in St Catherine Parish, the son of a Lebanese immigrant father Alfred Khouri, and a mother of Cuban origin, Alista Hylton, and grew up in Richmond and Highgate.
[4] When his father required specialist hospital treatment, he flew with him to Miami, Florida, and by chance overheard someone selling a disc recording machine.
The records pressed by Khouri and others such Stanley Motta helped created the golden age of mento music and brought it to a new audience.
Ken Lazarus, Ernie Smith, Ken Boothe, Pluto Shervington, guitarist Ernest Ranglin, Don Drummond, Winston Turner Quintet, Eric Grant Orchestra, Gladstone Anderson, Cecil Lloyd, The Maytals, Eric Morris, Granville Williams Orchestra, Delroy Wilson, Marcia Griffiths, Bob Andy, Derrick Harriott, Derrick Morgan, Tinga Stewart, Roland Alphonso, John Holt, The Meditations, John Jones, Eddie Lovette, The Zodiacs, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, Archie Lewis, were just some of the acts who recorded hit songs there.
[19] The slower and bassier beat style of this new rocksteady genre became the choice of partygoers in Jamaica over the previous jazz-based Ska.
"[23] In an interview he commented on his lack of recognition in the Jamaican music industry, stating that apart from some non-Jamaicans and a few old associates like Prince Buster or Pluto Shervington: "No one ever says thanks...
"[4] In 2001, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Caribbean Development for the Arts and Culture Foundation, and before his death he was the recipient of the silver Musgrave Medal for his contributions to the music industry.