Cornell Campbell
Encyclopedia
Cornell Campbell aka Don Cornell or Don Gorgon (born 23 November 1945, Kingston
, Jamaica
) is a reggae
singer, best known for his trademark falsetto
voice, and his recordings
at Studio One in the late 1960s and his later work with Bunny Lee
in the 1970s.
, who took him to Clement Dodd's studio
, where he recorded his first single
, "My Treasure". Further singles followed as Jamaican music transformed from rhythm and blues
to ska
, with backing from The Skatalites
. He later recorded for King Edwards backed by The Bell Stars, before moving on again to Duke Reid
's Treasure Isle, where he formed The Sensations along with Jimmy Riley
, Buster Riley, and Aaron Davis.
When The Sensations split, Campbell emerged as leader of his own new vocal group, The Eternals, with Ken Price and Errol Wisdom, recording perennial favourites such as "Queen of The Minstrels" and "Stars". He was also briefly a member of The Uniques
in the 1960s, although he may not have contributed to any recordings by the group at that time.
artist
, he began a long association with Bunny Lee, initially working in the lovers rock
genre, but soon working more roots songs into his repertoire. His self-titled debut album
appeared in 1973, but his popularity peaked in the mid 1970s with the 'flying hi-hat' sound (played by drummer Santa Davis), leading to major Jamaican hits "Natty Dread In A Greenwich Farm", "Dance In A Greenwich Farm", "Stars" and "The Gorgon". He later enjoyed a huge hit in the early 80's rub-a-dub era with "Boxing" for Joe Gibbs
. Throughout the 1970s he also recorded with other record producer
s such as Winston Holness
("I Heart Is Clean") and Winston Riley
("Them A Bad"). By the late 1970s, Campbell's popularity had begun to wane and he increasingly concentrated on love songs, and after the mid 1980s, new recordings were less common, although he has maintained a strong following.
The Uniques were revived in the late 1970s, with Campbell joining Jimmy Riley and Lloyd Charmers
in the group. This line-up recorded the Showcase vol. 1 album, and Campbell and Riley recorded the Give Thanks album in 1979. The group was again revived in 1997, with a line-up of Riley, Cornell Campbell, and Al Campbell
, the group recording a self-titled album.
In 2005 "King In My Empire" was released on the Burial Mix label
billed as by Rhythm and Sound with Cornell Campbell. The song was produced
by Moritz Von Oswald
and Mark Ernestus.
Split albums:
Compilations:
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
) is a reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
singer, best known for his trademark falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
voice, and his recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
at Studio One in the late 1960s and his later work with Bunny Lee
Bunny Lee
Edward O'Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee is a prominent, prolific and successful record producer best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
in the 1970s.
Biography
Cornel has one of the sweetest falsettos of any Jamaican vocalist and uses it often to convey frustration, soul or despair. His first name was mistakenly spelled with two L's on a record and he's had to live with people misspelling his name ever since. He prefers the correct spelling: Cornel Campbell. Cornel's singing career began in his local church choir. At age eleven, in 1956, he was introduced to trombonist Rico RodriguezRico Rodriguez
Rico Rodriguez MBE , also known as Reco or El Reco, is a ska and reggae trombonist. He has recorded with many producers, including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, and Lloyd 'Matador' Daley...
, who took him to Clement Dodd's studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, where he recorded his first single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "My Treasure". Further singles followed as Jamaican music transformed from rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
to ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
, with backing from The Skatalites
The Skatalites
The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone". They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period...
. He later recorded for King Edwards backed by The Bell Stars, before moving on again to Duke Reid
Duke Reid
Treasure Isle re-directs here. For the game, see Treasure Isle .Arthur "Duke" Reid, CD was a Jamaican record producer, DJ and label owner....
's Treasure Isle, where he formed The Sensations along with Jimmy Riley
Jimmy Riley
Jimmy Riley is a Jamaican singer who in addition to recording solo has also been a member of the Sensations and The Uniques.-Biography:...
, Buster Riley, and Aaron Davis.
When The Sensations split, Campbell emerged as leader of his own new vocal group, The Eternals, with Ken Price and Errol Wisdom, recording perennial favourites such as "Queen of The Minstrels" and "Stars". He was also briefly a member of The Uniques
The Uniques (Jamaican group)
The Uniques were a Jamaican rocksteady and reggae vocal group, formed in 1966 and active with varying line-ups until the late 1970s.-History:...
in the 1960s, although he may not have contributed to any recordings by the group at that time.
Solo career
In 1971, now as a soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, he began a long association with Bunny Lee, initially working in the lovers rock
Lovers rock
Lovers rock is a style of reggae music noted for its romantic sound and content. While love songs had been an important part of reggae since the late 1960s, the style was given a greater focus and a name in London in the mid 1970s.-History:...
genre, but soon working more roots songs into his repertoire. His self-titled debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
appeared in 1973, but his popularity peaked in the mid 1970s with the 'flying hi-hat' sound (played by drummer Santa Davis), leading to major Jamaican hits "Natty Dread In A Greenwich Farm", "Dance In A Greenwich Farm", "Stars" and "The Gorgon". He later enjoyed a huge hit in the early 80's rub-a-dub era with "Boxing" for Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs (record producer)
Joe Gibbs born Joel A. Gibson was a Jamaican reggae producer.-Biography:Joe Gibbs worked as an electronics engineer in the United States before his career in music started. Gibbs eventually returned to Kingston, Jamaica and opened an electrical repair shop with television repairs and sales as its...
. Throughout the 1970s he also recorded with other record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s such as Winston Holness
Niney the Observer
Winston Holness, better known as Niney the Observer , is a Jamaican record producer and singer who was a key figure in the creation of many classic reggae recordings dating from the 1970s and early 1980s....
("I Heart Is Clean") and Winston Riley
Winston Riley
Winston Riley worked as a songwriter and record producer of Jamaican music. According to the Jamaica Gleaner, Riley has a claim to being the most successful reggae producer of all-time.-Biography:...
("Them A Bad"). By the late 1970s, Campbell's popularity had begun to wane and he increasingly concentrated on love songs, and after the mid 1980s, new recordings were less common, although he has maintained a strong following.
The Uniques were revived in the late 1970s, with Campbell joining Jimmy Riley and Lloyd Charmers
Lloyd Charmers
Lloyd Charmers is a ska and reggae singer, keyboard player and record producer.-Career:...
in the group. This line-up recorded the Showcase vol. 1 album, and Campbell and Riley recorded the Give Thanks album in 1979. The group was again revived in 1997, with a line-up of Riley, Cornell Campbell, and Al Campbell
Al Campbell
Al Campbell is a Jamaican reggae singer active since the late 1960s.-Biography:Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Campbell's singing career began in church, where his father was a preacher, and Al would sing to raise funds...
, the group recording a self-titled album.
In 2005 "King In My Empire" was released on the Burial Mix label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
billed as by Rhythm and Sound with Cornell Campbell. The song was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Moritz Von Oswald
Moritz Von Oswald
Moritz von Oswald , half of both Basic Channel and Maurizio, went on to become one of the most influential producers of techno music in the 1990s. In the 1980s he was percussionist for Palais Schaumburg and The Associates, but would segue into electronic music by the late 80s and early 90s...
and Mark Ernestus.
Solo
- Cornell Campbell (1973) TrojanTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
- Natty Dread In a Greenwich Farm (1975) Total Sounds
- Dance In a Greenwich Farm (1975) Grounation
- The Gorgon (1976) Total Sounds/Angen
- Stalowatt (1976) Third World
- Turn Back The Hands Of Time (1977) Third World
- Superstar (1979) Micron (reissued as Sweet Baby (1979) Burning Sounds/Abraham)
- Yes I Will (1979) Micron
- The Inspector General (1980) Imperial
- Ropin (1980) Justice
- Boxing (1982) Starlight
- Boxing Round (1982) Joe Gibbs
- What's Happening To Me (1982) Joe Gibbs
- Follow Instructions (1983) Mobiliser (reissued as Press Along Natty (1993) Tappa)
- Money (1983) Live & Learn
- Fight Against Corruption (1983) Vista (reissued as Tell The People (1997) Prestige)
- Big Things (2000) Don One
- Rock My Soul (2008) Sip a Cup
Split albums:
- Johnnie Clarke Meets Cornell Campbell (1983) Vista (split with Johnnie Clarke)
- Cornell Campbell Meets The Gaylads (1984) Culture PressCulture PressCulture Press is an independent record label from UK specialized in Jamaican music. Many of their releases are of questionable legality and are often titled incorrectly.-LP Discography:*VSLP5000 - Bob Marley - Interviews...
(split with The GayladsThe GayladsThe Gaylads were one of the top Rocksteady vocal groups active in Jamaica between 1963 and 1973. The group, formed in Kingston, originally consisted of singers Harris "B.B." Seaton, Winston Delano Stewart and Maurice Roberts; Seaton and Stewart had previously been successful as the duo Winston &...
) - Double Top (1991) Tamoki Wambesi (split with Junior ReidJunior ReidDelroy "Junior" Reid is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall musician, best known for the songs "One Blood" and "Funny Man", as well as being the man that replaced Michael Rose as lead vocalist for Black Uhuru.-Biography:...
) - Barry Brown Meets Cornell Campbell (2001) Culture Press (with Barry BrownBarry Brown (singer)Barry Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer, initially coming to prominence in the 1970s with his work with Bunny Lee, but remaining popular throughout his career.-Biography:...
)
Compilations:
- Reggae Sun (1980)
- Silver Jubilee (1993) Rhino
- Sweet Dancehall Collection (1995) JA Classics
- Magic Spell (1999) Studio One
- Sings Hits From Studio One And More (1999) Rhino
- The Minstrel (2000) Westside
- I Shall Not Remove (2000) Blood & Fire
- My Confession (2002) CharlyCharly RecordsCharly Records is a British record label which specialises in reissued material.-History:Among the labels whose original releases are reissued by Charly are Vee-Jay, Sun, Immediate, BYG, Tomato, and Fania. Charly Records was founded in France in 1974 by Jean-Luc Young, who had been a promoter of...
- Original Blue Recordings (2003) Moll Selekta
- Natty Dread (2005) Trojan
- My Destination (2005) Kingston Sounds
- Very Best (2006) Super Power
- Legend (2011), Justice
With The Uniques
- Showcase Vol. 1 (1978) Third World/Jackpot
- Give Thanks (1979) Plant
- The Uniques (1999) Charm
External links
- Album discography at Roots Archives
- Album discography at Reggae Discographies
- Rebel Base interview
- Cornell Campbell interview with Sarah C of Vibes 93.8 FM, May 2008 (audio)
Video
- PUNKCAST#23 Cornell Campbell & The Slackers @ The Cooler NYC - Sep 15th 2000. (RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
)