Prince Buster (Cecil Bustamente Campbell, 24 May 1938 - 8 September 2016) w… Read Full Bio ↴Prince Buster (Cecil Bustamente Campbell, 24 May 1938 - 8 September 2016) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of ska and rocksteady music. The records he released in the 1960s influenced and shaped the course of Jamaican contemporary music and created a legacy of work that later reggae and ska artists would draw upon.
Born Cecil Bustamente Campbell on Orange Street in Kingston, Jamaica, his middle name was given to him by his family in honour of the Labour activist and first post-Independence Prime Minister William Alexander Clarke Bustamante, in the early 1940s Campbell was sent to live with his grandmother in rural Jamaica where his family's commitment to the Christian faith gave him his earliest musical experiences in the form of church singing as well as private family prayer and hymn meetings. Returning to live at Orange Street while still a young boy; Campbell attended the Central Branch School and St. Anne's School. While at school Campbell performed three or four times a week at the Glass Bucket Club as part of Frankie Lymon's Sing and Dance Troupe; rock 'n' roll themed shows were popular during the 1950s with the Glass Bucket Club establishing a reputation as the premier music venue and social club for Jamaican teenagers at that time. Upon leaving school Campbell found himself drawn to the ranks of followers that supported the sound system of Tom the Great Sebastian. Jamaican sound systems at that time were playing American rhythm 'n' blues and Campbell credits Tom the Great Sebastian with his first introduction to the songs and artists that would later influence his own music: The Clovers' "Middle of the Night", Fats Domino's "Mardi Gras in New Orleans", the Griffin Brothers featuring Margie Day, and Shirley & Lee.
Campbell became more actively involved in the operational side of running a sound system after he was introduced to Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd; a musically-inclined businessman who operated one of Kingston's most popular sound systems. Campbell found himself fulfilling a variety of roles for Coxsone: providing security, handling ticket receipts, identifying and sourcing music as well as working in the essential role of selector. The knowledge he gained about the financial and logistical aspects of staging a sound system dance was put to good use when Campbell made the decision to start his own sound system called 'Voice of the People'. Campbell approached his family and a radio shop owner called Mr Wong for financial backing; both parties agreed. Campbell's 'Voice of the People' sound system was soon operational and within a short time had established itself as a rival to the sound systems of Coxsone and Reid. Campbell applied to the Farm Work Program (guest worker scheme for the US agricultural sector) with the intention of buying music for his sound system but on the day of departure was refused entry into the scheme. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to personally source records from the US Campbell decided to record his own music. He approached Arkland "Drumbago" Parks; a professional drummer at the Baby Grand Club who had arranged and recorded a special (exclusive recording) for the Count Boysie sound system. Drumbago agreed to help and Campbell immediately began rehearsing with the musicians at the Baby Grand Club including the guitarist Jah Jerry who played on Campbell's first recording session.
In 1961 Campbell released his first single "Little Honey/Luke Lane Shuffle" featuring Jah Jerry, Drumbago and Rico Rodriquez recording under the name of Buster's Group. In that same year he produced "Oh Carolina" by the Folkes Brothers which was released on his Wild Bells label. The drumming on the record was provided by members of the Count Ossie Group; nyabinghi drummers from the rastafarian community, Camp David, situated on the Wareika Hill above Kingston. After becoming a hit in Jamaica "Oh Carolina" was licensed to Melodisc; a UK label owned by Emil Shalet. Melodisc released the track on their subsidiary label Blue Beat; the label would go on to become synonymous with 1960s ska releases for the UK market.
Campbell recorded prolifically throughout the 1960s; notable early ska releases include: "Madness" (1963), "Wash Wash" (1963 with Ernest Ranglin on bass), "One Step Beyond" (1964) and "Al Capone" (1964). The documentary This is Ska (1964), hosted by Edward Seaga and filmed at the Sombrero Club, includes Campbell performing his Jamaican hit "Wash Wash". In 1964 Campbell met World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali who invited him to attend a Nation of Islam talk at Mosque 29 in Miami. That year Campbell joined the Nation of Islam and also started to release material on his own imprint label called "Islam". In 1965 he appeared in Millie in Jamaica (a film short about Millie Small's return to Jamaica after the world-wide success of "My Boy Lollipop") which was broadcast on Rediffusion's Friday evening pop show Ready, Steady, Go!. Campbell had a Top Twenty hit in the UK with the track "Al Capone" (#18, February 1967). He toured the UK in spring 1967 appearing at the Marquee club in May and later toured America to promote the RCA Victor LP release The Ten Commandments (From Man To Woman). By the late 1960s Campbell was once again at the forefront of a musical change in Jamaica; the new music would be called rocksteady. Campbell tracks like "Shaking Up Orange Street" (1967) were arranged with the slower more soulful rocksteady template as used by Alton Ellis ("Rock Steady") and many others. The album Judge Dread Rock Steady was released in 1967 and the title track "Judge Dread" with its satirical theme and vocal style proved to be popular to the point of parody. In 1968 the compilation album FABulous was released; opening with the track "Earthquake" (which revisited the theme of Orange Street) and including earlier hits the album has regularly been reissued in the UK.
In 1972 the movie The Harder They Come was released which features Campbell in a cameo role as a DJ.
The UK ska revival at the end of the 1970s that started with the 2-Tone label from Coventry introduced Campbell's music to a new generation of listeners. In 1979 the band Madness released their first single on 2-Tone, a tribute to Campbell called "The Prince". The B-side was a cover of the Campbell song "Madness" from which they took their name. Their second single, released on the Stiff label ("The Prince" would be the only single released by Madness on the 2-Tone label), was a cover of Campbell's "One Step Beyond", which reached the UK Top 10. On their self-titled debut album, The Specials covered "Too Hot" as well as borrowing elements from Campbell's "Judge Dread" (in the song "Stupid Marriage") and "Al Capone" (in the song "Gangsters"). The Specials also included a cover of "Enjoy Yourself" on their second album More Specials. The Beat covered "Rough Rider" and "Whine & Grine" on their album I Just Can't Stop It. Campbell's song "Hard Man Fe Dead" was covered by the U.S. ska band The Toasters on their 1996 album 2 Tone Army.
In 1994 a UK court ruled in favour of John Folkes and Greensleeves after they brought a lawsuit against Campbell and Melodisc (CampbelI by this time had acquired Melodisc) concerning authorship of "Oh Carolina". Campbell had a Top Thirty hit in the UK with the track "Whine and Grine" (#21, April 1998) after the song had been used in an advert for Levi's.
In 2001 Campbell was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government for his contribution to music.
He performed at the 2002 Legends Of Ska festival in Toronto. Other appearances include: Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2003; the 2006 Boss Sounds Reggae Festival in Newcastle upon Tyne,[16] the 40th Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with the Delroy Williams Junction Band, and the 2007 UK Rhythm Festival.
Born Cecil Bustamente Campbell on Orange Street in Kingston, Jamaica, his middle name was given to him by his family in honour of the Labour activist and first post-Independence Prime Minister William Alexander Clarke Bustamante, in the early 1940s Campbell was sent to live with his grandmother in rural Jamaica where his family's commitment to the Christian faith gave him his earliest musical experiences in the form of church singing as well as private family prayer and hymn meetings. Returning to live at Orange Street while still a young boy; Campbell attended the Central Branch School and St. Anne's School. While at school Campbell performed three or four times a week at the Glass Bucket Club as part of Frankie Lymon's Sing and Dance Troupe; rock 'n' roll themed shows were popular during the 1950s with the Glass Bucket Club establishing a reputation as the premier music venue and social club for Jamaican teenagers at that time. Upon leaving school Campbell found himself drawn to the ranks of followers that supported the sound system of Tom the Great Sebastian. Jamaican sound systems at that time were playing American rhythm 'n' blues and Campbell credits Tom the Great Sebastian with his first introduction to the songs and artists that would later influence his own music: The Clovers' "Middle of the Night", Fats Domino's "Mardi Gras in New Orleans", the Griffin Brothers featuring Margie Day, and Shirley & Lee.
Campbell became more actively involved in the operational side of running a sound system after he was introduced to Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd; a musically-inclined businessman who operated one of Kingston's most popular sound systems. Campbell found himself fulfilling a variety of roles for Coxsone: providing security, handling ticket receipts, identifying and sourcing music as well as working in the essential role of selector. The knowledge he gained about the financial and logistical aspects of staging a sound system dance was put to good use when Campbell made the decision to start his own sound system called 'Voice of the People'. Campbell approached his family and a radio shop owner called Mr Wong for financial backing; both parties agreed. Campbell's 'Voice of the People' sound system was soon operational and within a short time had established itself as a rival to the sound systems of Coxsone and Reid. Campbell applied to the Farm Work Program (guest worker scheme for the US agricultural sector) with the intention of buying music for his sound system but on the day of departure was refused entry into the scheme. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to personally source records from the US Campbell decided to record his own music. He approached Arkland "Drumbago" Parks; a professional drummer at the Baby Grand Club who had arranged and recorded a special (exclusive recording) for the Count Boysie sound system. Drumbago agreed to help and Campbell immediately began rehearsing with the musicians at the Baby Grand Club including the guitarist Jah Jerry who played on Campbell's first recording session.
In 1961 Campbell released his first single "Little Honey/Luke Lane Shuffle" featuring Jah Jerry, Drumbago and Rico Rodriquez recording under the name of Buster's Group. In that same year he produced "Oh Carolina" by the Folkes Brothers which was released on his Wild Bells label. The drumming on the record was provided by members of the Count Ossie Group; nyabinghi drummers from the rastafarian community, Camp David, situated on the Wareika Hill above Kingston. After becoming a hit in Jamaica "Oh Carolina" was licensed to Melodisc; a UK label owned by Emil Shalet. Melodisc released the track on their subsidiary label Blue Beat; the label would go on to become synonymous with 1960s ska releases for the UK market.
Campbell recorded prolifically throughout the 1960s; notable early ska releases include: "Madness" (1963), "Wash Wash" (1963 with Ernest Ranglin on bass), "One Step Beyond" (1964) and "Al Capone" (1964). The documentary This is Ska (1964), hosted by Edward Seaga and filmed at the Sombrero Club, includes Campbell performing his Jamaican hit "Wash Wash". In 1964 Campbell met World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali who invited him to attend a Nation of Islam talk at Mosque 29 in Miami. That year Campbell joined the Nation of Islam and also started to release material on his own imprint label called "Islam". In 1965 he appeared in Millie in Jamaica (a film short about Millie Small's return to Jamaica after the world-wide success of "My Boy Lollipop") which was broadcast on Rediffusion's Friday evening pop show Ready, Steady, Go!. Campbell had a Top Twenty hit in the UK with the track "Al Capone" (#18, February 1967). He toured the UK in spring 1967 appearing at the Marquee club in May and later toured America to promote the RCA Victor LP release The Ten Commandments (From Man To Woman). By the late 1960s Campbell was once again at the forefront of a musical change in Jamaica; the new music would be called rocksteady. Campbell tracks like "Shaking Up Orange Street" (1967) were arranged with the slower more soulful rocksteady template as used by Alton Ellis ("Rock Steady") and many others. The album Judge Dread Rock Steady was released in 1967 and the title track "Judge Dread" with its satirical theme and vocal style proved to be popular to the point of parody. In 1968 the compilation album FABulous was released; opening with the track "Earthquake" (which revisited the theme of Orange Street) and including earlier hits the album has regularly been reissued in the UK.
In 1972 the movie The Harder They Come was released which features Campbell in a cameo role as a DJ.
The UK ska revival at the end of the 1970s that started with the 2-Tone label from Coventry introduced Campbell's music to a new generation of listeners. In 1979 the band Madness released their first single on 2-Tone, a tribute to Campbell called "The Prince". The B-side was a cover of the Campbell song "Madness" from which they took their name. Their second single, released on the Stiff label ("The Prince" would be the only single released by Madness on the 2-Tone label), was a cover of Campbell's "One Step Beyond", which reached the UK Top 10. On their self-titled debut album, The Specials covered "Too Hot" as well as borrowing elements from Campbell's "Judge Dread" (in the song "Stupid Marriage") and "Al Capone" (in the song "Gangsters"). The Specials also included a cover of "Enjoy Yourself" on their second album More Specials. The Beat covered "Rough Rider" and "Whine & Grine" on their album I Just Can't Stop It. Campbell's song "Hard Man Fe Dead" was covered by the U.S. ska band The Toasters on their 1996 album 2 Tone Army.
In 1994 a UK court ruled in favour of John Folkes and Greensleeves after they brought a lawsuit against Campbell and Melodisc (CampbelI by this time had acquired Melodisc) concerning authorship of "Oh Carolina". Campbell had a Top Thirty hit in the UK with the track "Whine and Grine" (#21, April 1998) after the song had been used in an advert for Levi's.
In 2001 Campbell was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government for his contribution to music.
He performed at the 2002 Legends Of Ska festival in Toronto. Other appearances include: Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2003; the 2006 Boss Sounds Reggae Festival in Newcastle upon Tyne,[16] the 40th Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with the Delroy Williams Junction Band, and the 2007 UK Rhythm Festival.
Ghost Dance
Prince Buster Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Ghost Dance' by these artists:
Beachdust So this is life? Wishing on stars that pass you by Like…
Bill Miller i wanna go where the blind can see i wanna go…
Bob Dylan & Patti Smith We shall live again, we shall live What is it children…
Braison Cyrus Come quick darling Come here what I dreamed Hold me while I …
David Huckfelt We shall live again we shall live What is it children…
dbh This is a instrumental song just listen! jdjdjjdjdhdhhdhdhdh…
Death Cult wovoka had a vision his words went far and wide save…
Deströyer 666 Come to the ritual, they say it'll save our souls…
Emmon Early morning Wake up on the floor I hear the ghosts are…
Marianne Faithfull We shall live again, we shall live What is it children,…
Patti Smith We shall live again, we shall live What is it children…
Patti Smith Group We shall live again, we shall live. What is it children…
Racer X Bi polar neutronic energy stream Lit me to space pass the…
Riot Watching through the dead of the night Think I have one…
Robbie Robertson Crow has brought the message To the children of the sun Fo…
Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble Crow's brought the message To the children of the sun For th…
Robbie Robertson and the Red Road Ensemble Crow has brought the message to the children of the sun fo…
Robertson Robbie Crow's brought the message To the children of the sun For th…
Roy Harper Plastic money flexidream And comfort for the preacher Keep…
Smith (Patti) We shall live again, we shall live What is it children…
Smith Group Patti We shall live again, we shall live What is it children…
The Bright Light Social Hour A glowing dawn of crowded eyes Each a screaming pulsar Wound…
The Cult Go West young man And break bread in the new…
The Red Road Ensemble Crow's brought the message To the children of the sun For th…
Tomahawk Native American Chanting…
Tulku Hoje, é hoje, é hoje, é hoje! Hoje eu tenho uma…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Prince Buster:
10 Commandments The Ten Commandments from man given to woman Through the ins…
30 Pieces of Silver For thirty pieces of silver For thirty pieces of silver For …
Big 5 Come over, get me brush up Going to rub a pussy…
Black Head Chinaman You done stole my belongings and give to your Chinaman God…
Black Pum Pum Tonight I want to wreck a pum pum A fat, fat…
Blackhead Chineman You done stole my belongings and give to your chineman God…
Enjoy Your Self It's good to be wise when you're young 'Cos you can…
Enjoy Yourself It's good to be wise When you're young 'Cause you can only…
Finger Finger never say "Look here" Only "Look deh" Finger never sa…
Hard Man Fe Dead You pick him up, you lick him down, him bounce…
Independence Song This is the new talk All callin over town The independent…
It Champs-Élysées, Champs-Élysées, Champs-Élysées Nothing to wo…
Judge Dread You're rough, you're tough, you're rough, you're tough You'r…
Julie Softly, she stared right into my mind And then she's gone…
Madness Madness, madness, they call it madness Madness, madness, the…
My girl I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside…
My Sound That Goes Around Yes i was walkin I heard a talkin Don't do it brother Don't…
Nothing Takes the Place of You I take your picture From my walls And i replaced them Both l…
One Step Beyond One step beyond One step beyond One step beyond…
Prince Buster A woman want to win with her cow And want…
Rough Rider She was a rough rider A cool stroker A strong…
Ska ska ska Ska, ska, ska, guess got them all pretty bad I'm gonna…
Take It Easy Champs-Élysées, Champs-Élysées, Champs-Élysées Nothing to wo…
Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments from man given to woman Through the ins…
Ten commandments from woman to man The ten commandments from man Given to woman Through the ins…
Ten Commandments of Man The Ten Commandments from man given to woman Through the ins…
Texas Hold-Up This is a hold up, ain't nobody move This is,…
The got to go They got to go, they got to go They got to…
The Prophet Do you love with all of your heart Just for a…
These Are The Times There are the time that every young man must apprehend, You…
They Got to Come Don't believe them people I have done no wrong So, will you…
They Got To Go They got to go, they got to go They got to…
Think Enjoy yourself while you're still in the pink Enjoy yoursel…
Time Longer Than Rope Time Longer Than Rope By Prince Buster & the All Stars …
Too Hot Too hot, this town is too hot Too hot, too hot Now…
Wash Wash wash Wash all my troubles away oh yeah Wash wash Wash a…
Whine Whether you whine or grine Whether you whine or grine She sh…
Wings of a dove If I had the wings of a dove Well, I would…
Wreck a Pum Pum Tonight I want to wreck a pum pum A fat, fat…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Skull Island
Dear Keithus, my friend, good day
Hoping you're keeping the best of health
How is the music down there in bone yard?
I hear that Busby have a sound system
And that Nyah Keith is disc-jockey
But them can't get no Red Stripe beer
Fi sell in the dance at night
Tell Zacky, the High Priest
Who used to lead the toughest
One who could go, baah toughest
Give him my regards
Tell him Prince Buster says hello
(..)
Baah, toughest
And Keith, if you should see Rashi
You know Rashi from Back'o'Wall?
Give him my regards
And if you should see, the two brothers
Stinky Pommells and Herbman, we grew together
Tell them Prince Buster says, so long
Sorry they had to go so soon
Since music be the food of love, I'll forever sing on
And Forresters Hall, we'll soon get back on shape
Baah, toughest
Ghost dance
Ghost dance
Baah, toughest
Skull Island
Dear Keithus, my friend, good day
Hoping you're keeping the best of health
How is the music down there in bone yard?
I hear that Busby have a sound system
And that Nyah Keith is disc-jockey
But them can't get no Red Stripe beer
Fi sell in the dance at night
Tell Zacky, the High Priest
Who used to lead the toughest
One who could go, baah toughest
Give him my regards
Tell him Prince Buster says hello
(..)
Baah, toughest
And Keith, if you should see Rashi
You know Rashi from Back'o'Wall?
Give him my regards
And if you should see, the two brothers
Stinky Pommells and Herbman, we grew together
Tell them Prince Buster says, so long
Sorry they had to go so soon
Since music be the food of love, I'll forever sing on
And Forresters Hall, we'll soon get back on shape
Baah, toughest
Ghost dance
Ghost dance
Baah, toughest
Carlton Wynter
I know many people is intrigue with this song, I also love this song because I know Keithus very well and he was a gentleman who was a good friend of PB. I remember C PB and Keithus boxing-training on the corner of Luke land and Charles street. Keithus was a great guy and well respected. When he died the people hung by nailing a piece black cloth on the light posts in the neighborhood,in his memory.
Keightus was just a "REAL-NICE, guy whom I think passed at the age of 27 in 1967.
Keithus was an only child who enjoy reading. Many times on the corner of Luke lane and Beeston streets as soon as would come by he would send me to buy a newspaper and when he was finished he told me to take the paper.
Keithus was tall, musclar, and light complexion brother. I will ask a friend who knew Keithus family, including his ex. If I can get any pic of him I surely would be happy post it here.
I have seen Nyah Keith , a skinny light complexion dread.
Skull Island
Dear Keithus, my friend, good day
Hoping you're keeping the best of health
How is the music down there in bone yard?
I hear that Busby have a sound system
And that Nyah Keith is disc-jockey
But them can't get no Red Stripe beer
Fi sell in the dance at night
Tell Zacky, the High Priest
Who used to lead the toughest
One who could go, baah toughest
Give him my regards
Tell him Prince Buster says hello
(..)
Baah, toughest
And Keith, if you should see Rashi
You know Rashi from Back'o'Wall?
Give him my regards
And if you should see, the two brothers
Stinky Pommells and Herbman, we grew together
Tell them Prince Buster says, so long
Sorry they had to go so soon
Since music be the food of love, I'll forever sing on
And Forresters Hall, we'll soon get back on shape
Baah, toughest
Ghost dance
Ghost dance
Baah, toughest
Carsten Reim
One of my favourite song from the Prince.
prx23
since music be he food of love, i'll forever sing on....
r.i.p. buster
tuffest!
Sue Lyons
If you ever want to give thanks and praise to a loved one, to a remembered one, from beyond the grave, this is it. Bless you, Prince Buster.
royalewithcheese12
It is really a moving song. Reaching out to his mates long gone. Love it.
zexja
RIP! Loved Prince Buster since the first time I heard him on the radio!
Bancroft Groves
RIP prince founding Father of the music ❤❤❤❤
Yvonne Quarry
Sue Lyons W
Sue Lyons
of this whole strain of magnificent music, yes - mento, bluebeat, rocksteady, ska, reggae and all its later forms
not the founding father of kaiso, calypso, soca and all that conscious movement
not the founding father of all the West African kora music
not the founding father of all themagnificent conscious movement coming out of East Africa right now. Check Radio and Weasel as a start.