Prince Buster is one of the originators of Jamaican music. He started his career as a boxer and earned a tough reputation around the sound systems of the fifties. In those days, music promoters would set up sound systems in yards throughout Kingston and charge an entry fee to an all male audience. Records were rare and DJs competed to import new discs from the United States. Over the DJ an announcer would "toast" dancers and make light hearted boosts. The sound systems would also sell beer and home brewed rum. These yards would attract thousands of revelers.
There was a violent rivalry between the top systems who would send rude boys to attack the competition. Prince Buster began as a member of Duke Reid's sound system, but later joined with Coxsone Dodd. Dodd would fill his toughest men with a special high proof rum called "Rude To Your Parents" and send them over to Reid's yard to cause trouble. Buster often led these attacks. On one occasion, Prince Buster was able to break Reid's record stylus, which caused a small riot and shut down the system for the night.
Both of these systems later developed into important recording studios and labels: Duke Reid's Treasure Isle and Coxsonne Dodd's Studio One. Prince Buster went on to become a toaster and then a recording artist. He recorded hundreds of early ska songs.
My first exposure to Prince Buster was Judge Dread, an album of rocksteady covers of classic soul songs. Since then I have become more familiar with the originals. Although Prince Buster's rocksteady versions are somewhat unsophisticated, they still hold a certain charm for me.Nothing Takes the Place of You (Toussaint McCall) |
Nothing Takes the Place of You (Prince Buster) |
The Dark End of the Street (James Carr) |
The Dark End of the Street (Prince Buster) |
Finally, Prince Buster's cover of Sam Cooke's classic song. I posted the original version of this song earlier on this site.
A Change is Gonna Come (Prince Buster) |