Prince Buster – The Voice Of The People

It is widely acknowledged that very few individuals have exerted a more profound influence on the development of Jamaican music than Cecil Bustmente Campbell aka Prince Buster.

After launching his career as an independent operator at the start of the 1960s, he swiftly became established as one of the sharpest players on the recording scene, while his Voice of the People sound system became widely reknowned for the high quality of its sets.

A contract with Melodisc Records in 1962 ultimately resulted in his productions dominating the company’s Blue Beat imprint and throughout the remainder of the ska years, his popularity in the UK was unrivalled by any of his peers.

He continued to perform and produce high quality works throughout the subsequent rock steady and reggae eras, but a move to Miami in the seventies resulted in a prolonged break from the recording studio.

As the 20th century drew to a close, he was coerced from his retirement and promptly enjoyed his second major UK chart hit (the first being ‘Al Capone’ in 1967) with a revival of his his 1969 Jamaican best-seller, ‘Whine And Grind’.

Over the next few years, he performed around the globe and recorded an as yet album of new recordings, but a stroke in 2009 abruptly brought his music career to a halt.

Tragically, he passed away in his adopted city on the morning of 8th September 2016, leaving behind a body of work of the hightest quality.

To find out more about his life and career, check out the newly posted Prince Buster bio and spotify playlist by simply clicking here or on the Artists link at the top of the homepage, then scroll down the alphabetically-ordered list of names until you reach ‘Prince Buster’.