The ska and reggae pioneer PRINCE BUSTER died in Miami on Thursday, 8th September. He was 78 and it’s understood that he was in poor health after a series of strokes.
Buster was born Cecil Bustamante Campbell in Kingston Jamaica in 1938 and his early ambition was to be a professional boxer but he turned to music in the early 60s, adopting the name Prince Buster. He was one of the pioneers in the development of the syncopated beat that became known as ska; indeed he was soon nicknamed “The King Of Ska”.
British ska revival groups including Madness and The Specials have said the musician was an influence on them; indeed Madness actually named themselves after Buster’s song of the same name and titled their first single ‘The Prince’ in tribute to him.
In 2001 he was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government for his contribution to music. Buster is survived by his wife Mola Ali and his children.
