Credited with shaping Jamaican music, in the 1960s he became a legend of the ska music genre under the stage name Prince Buster.
Advertisement
He passed away this morning (September 8) at a hospital in South Florida, the Jamaica Observer reports, having been ill for some time following a series of strokes.
He even gave himself the moniker “King of Ska” after the genius decision.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 24th, 1938, Campbell earned the nicknames “Prince” for his pre-music career as a street boxer and “Buster” after Jamaican Labour party leader Sir Alexander Bustamante.
Recruited as personal assistant and security guard to legendary record producer Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, Buster had an first-hand experience within the Jamaican record business.
Tributes poured in for the singer-songwriter-producer, who rose to fame in his homeland Jamaica in the 1960s. “Ska Reggae Pioneer. Bless you and Jamaican Music”. “Oh Carolina” a 1959 hit song produced by Prince was the biggest seller in the Voice catalogue. His rise to stardom helped gave rise to some famous Jamaican vocalists like Dennis Brown, Derrick Morgan, Alton Ellis and John Holt who also became huge global stars.
In the early 1970s, after producing for numerous Jamaican DJs, Campbell heavily slowed down his output and moved to Miami.
Advertisement
Coventry musicians moved to social media to pay tribute to Prince Buster, with Specials band member Neville Staple and iconic frontwoman of The Selecter, Pauline Black, sharing poignant messages on Twitter.
