Jamaican musician and ska legend Prince Buster has died. The singer, who is often times refer to as the king of ska, passeed away on Thursday, September 8th, at a Miami hospital.
The cause of his death is not yet known, but Buster, whose real name is Cecil Bustamante Campbell, became hospitalized on September 6th at the Memmorial Regional Hospital in South Florida. He never recovered from his illness and passed away two days later.
Prince Buster is credited for helping revolutionized Jamaican music and is often times refer to as the pioneer of ska and rocksteady music in the 1960s and 70s. His single “Hard Man Fi Dead” helped propelled him to be one of the most popular musicians in Jamaica in the 1960s and 70s. 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 international stars.
As a youngster, Prince began his musical career at Dodd’s Fledgling Studio One sound system prior to launching out with Voice of The People recording label. Not only did his own songs became huge hits internationally but songs that he produced for other artists also saw tremendous success. “Oh Carolina” a 1959 hit song produced by Prince was the biggest seller in the Voice catalogue.
Some of the most recognized hits from Prince Buster includes “Madness,” “Wash Wash,” “Judge Dread,” “Blackhead Chineyman,” and perhaps his most recognized vocals “Hard Man Fi Dead.”
Prince Buster was 79 at the time of his death.
May you rest in peace sir.