Credited with shaping Jamaican music, in the 1960s he became a legend of the ska music genre under the stage name Prince Buster.
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He died at home in Miami at 07:20 local time (11:20 GMT) on Thursday.
Born Cecil Bustamente Campbell, Buster got his start in the Kingston club scene, before getting involved in the city’s iconic “sound systems”-organized collectives of DJs, engineers, and MCs who loaded up trucks with speakers, generators and turntables, and put together impromptu music parties in the Kingston streets”.
Madness actually named themselves after Buster’s song of the same name and titled their first single The Prince in tribute.
He even gave himself the moniker “King of Ska” after the genius decision. He later changed his name to Muhammed Yusef Ali.
He is survived by his wife Mola Ali and children.
Prince Buster, rest in peace. “With love from @NevilleStaple & @SugaryStaple”.
Stars such as Simply Red frontman Mick Hucknall led tributes for the ska pioneer, with Mick tweeting: “Al Capone – Price Buster RIP”.
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Buster went on to produce hundreds of records on various labels, in addition to releasing his own music. “A true music legend”, reggae and dancehall DJ David Rodigan wrote on Twitter. Prince Buster’s death has been confirmed by Mr. Desmond Young, President of The Jamaica Federation of Musicians. “Ska Reggae Pioneer. Bless you and Jamaican music”.
