Prince Lasha (pronounced "La-shay") was born William B. Lawsha on September 10, 1929 in Fort Worth, Texas. 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…