- FilePrince Buster
Balford Henry, Staff Reporter
HOW MANY chances does one get to become a superstar? Prince Buster, christened Cecil Campbell, has the distinction of being one of Jamaica's first international pop star with hits Ten Commandments and Wash Wash in the 1960s.
Now, nearly three decades later, it looks like he is about to do it all over, again.
Prince Buster just made his first U.S. appearance in over 10 years at Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Marysville, California. Last July patrons crammed the Electric Ballroom, in Camden Town, London, for what is still regarded as one of the most memorable ska/reggae shows in recent times in that city.
It is a sign of the changing times for the evergreen star, who has again become a huge hit in Europe, after his Wine And
Grind entered the British Top Ten in 1999.
It brought the British skinheads streaming back to his shows. An engagement scheduled for Spain last month was postponed, as promoters feared that the antics of the skinheads would spill over from the Euro 2000 soccer games.
Buster recorded Wine and Grind from 1964. However, last year he re-recorded it for a Levi's Jeans British television advertisement, which sent it hurtling into the Top 40.
Since then, his popularity has soared back up to the level of the 1960s.
"When I do a show now I've to do 15 or 16 songs non-stop," he boasted as we talked about his resurgence.
"Nobody can do what I am doing in Europe now. Every show I do is sold out. I'm the man now. Nobody can come near to me there in terms of shows ," he bragged, the way he used to do when Muhammad Ali was so much of an idol to him that he followed him into the ring and the Nation of Islam.
Starting this month he has a number of shows in Europe, as well as a timely performance on Heineken Startime's 'Skamania' set for Saturday, July 29, in Kingston.
Judy Mowatt for Gospel Song finalsFormer Bob Marley back-up singer and member of the famous I-Three, Judy Mowatt, will headline tonight's National Gospel Song finals, to be held at the Ranny Williams Centre, Kingston.
Mowatt will be supported by promising gospel act, Rayon Baugh and last year's winner George Gordon. MCs will be Love FM's Nadine Blair and Arnold Kelly.
The 12 finalists in this year's competition are:
The Humming Birds' Joy In The Morning (Gifton Smith/Jon Williams); Andrew Simons' No Power Can Seperate Me (A. Simons/Sidney Thorpe); Arvind Graham's After All Has Been Done (A. Graham/Jon Williams); Ruth Esterine's Why Do The Heathen (R. Esterine/John Sharpe); Fitzroy Blackman's Faith (F.Blackman/Junior Baillie); Adette Mitchell's Sinner Man (A. Mitchell/Jon Williams); Young Talent Singers' Peace Of Mind (Lloyd Pascoe/Sidney Thorpe); God's Elect He's A Friend (God's Elect/Grub Cooper & Henry Robinson); Celebration Mass Choir's Complete Surrender (Miguel Lowe/Grub Cooper & Henry Robinson); Connected's Peace Of Mind (Dalton Spence/Henry Robinson); Noreta Lewis' I'll Make It Through The Valley (N.Lewis/ Grub Cooper & Henry Robinson); Brothers in Christ's Make A Way (Kevin Butler/ Othneil Lewis & W. Paul Barclay). Brackets indicate writer/producer.
The show is being produced by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) in association with Life Productions.
The songs have already been released on a compilation CD titled Jamaica Gospel 2000. Unfortunately, interest in this year's songs have not been as high as in the past two years and none of the songs have stood out like the two previous winners - Glacia Robinson's Hold My Hand (1999) and George Gordon's I Long For Great Peace (2000). However, the contest is expected to generate tremendous interest and support as in the past.
