Prince Lasha

William B. Lawsha, better known as Prince Lasha (pronounced "La-shay") (September 10, 1929 - December 12, 2008 ), was an American jazz alto saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist.

He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, where he came of age studying and performing alongside fellow I.M. Terrell High School students John Carter, Ornette Coleman, King Curtis, Charles Moffett, and Dewey Redman.

Lasha moved to California during the 1950s. In the 1960s, Prince Lasha was active in the burgeoning free jazz movement, of which his Fort Worth cohort Ornette Coleman was a pioneer. Lasha worked closely with saxophonist Sonny Simmons, with whom he recorded two albums, The Cry and Firebirds, for Contemporary Records. The latter album received five stars and an AMG Albumpick at Allmusic. Lasha also appeared on recordings by Eric Dolphy (Iron Man and Conversations) and the Elvin Jones/Jimmy Garrison Sextet featuring McCoy Tyner (Illumination!).

In the 1970s, Lasha and Simmons made additional recordings under the name Firebirds. In 2005, Lasha recorded the album The Mystery of Prince Lasha with the Odean Pope Trio. Lasha died on December 12, 2008, in Oakland, California.

As leader

 * The Cry! - Contemporary Records, 1962
 * Inside Story - Blue Note, 1965
 * Insight - CBS (UK only), 1966
 * Firebirds with Sonny Simmons - Contemporary Records, 1967
 * Firebirds, Live At The Berkeley Jazz Festival - Birdseye Records, 1974
 * And Now Music - Daagnim Records, 1983
 * The Mystery of Prince Lasha with the Odean Pope Trio - CIMP, 2005

As sideman
With Gene Ammons With Eric Dolphy With Elvin Jones / Jimmy Garrison With Michael White
 * Brasswind (Prestige, 1974)
 * Iron Man (1963)
 * Conversations (1963)
 * Illumination! (1963)
 * The Land of Spirit and Light (Impulse!, 1973)