Al Campbell
Encyclopedia
Al Campbell is a Jamaican reggae
singer active since the late 1960s.
, Campbell's singing career began in church, where his father was a preacher, and Al would sing to raise funds. He went to school with Lloyd James (aka Prince Jammy) and formed a vocal group with friends as a teenager, called The Thrillers, who recorded in the late 1960s for Studio One. After briefly joining up with Freddie McGregor
and Ernest Wilson
, he went on to work with Prince Lincoln Thompson's Royal Rasses, and the Mighty Cloud band. Campbell then embarked on a solo career (also contributing vocals to two Heptones albums), and was a popular roots reggae
singer during the 1970s, recording for producers such as Phil Pratt
, Bunny Lee
, and Joe Gibbs
, and recorded at Lee Perry's Black Ark
studio. His "Gee Baby" was a big hit in 1975 in both Jamaica and the United Kingdom
. He adapted successfully to the early dancehall
and lovers rock
styles in the late 1970s and 1980s, working with producers such as Linval Thompson
. Campbell's recording of "Late Night Blues" (1980) became a staple of blues parties. Campbell performed with the Stur-Gav sound system in the early 1980s. More recently he has recorded for King Jammy
, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, and Mafia & Fluxy
.
In 1997, he joined Cornell Campbell
and Jimmy Riley
in a new version of The Uniques
, the group releasing a self-titled album in 1999.
Campbell has not performed in Jamaica since a stageshow held by Jack Ruby
shortly before the latter's death. He continues to tour Europe and North America
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 active since the late 1960s.
Biography
Born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, 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...
, Campbell's singing career began in church, where his father was a preacher, and Al would sing to raise funds. He went to school with Lloyd James (aka Prince Jammy) and formed a vocal group with friends as a teenager, called The Thrillers, who recorded in the late 1960s for Studio One. After briefly joining up with Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor
Freddie McGregor has been variously a singer, musician and producer. According to Allmusic he is one of reggae's most durable and soulful singers, with a steady career that started in the 1960s, when he was just seven years old.-Biography:In 1963 he joined with Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin to...
and Ernest Wilson
Ernest Wilson (singer)
Ernest Wilson is a reggae singer who found fame as a member of The Clarendonians before working as a solo artist.-Biography:...
, he went on to work with Prince Lincoln Thompson's Royal Rasses, and the Mighty Cloud band. Campbell then embarked on a solo career (also contributing vocals to two Heptones albums), and was a popular roots reggae
Roots reggae
Roots reggae is a subgenre of reggae that deals with the everyday lives and aspirations of the artists concerned, including the spiritual side of Rastafari and with the honoring of God, called Jah by rastafarians. It also is identified with the life of the ghetto sufferer, and the rural poor...
singer during the 1970s, recording for producers such as Phil Pratt
Phil Pratt
Phil Pratt, born George Phillips is a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer.Phil Pratt worked at Studio One for Coxsone Dodd as a box-loader during the rocksteady period when Lee Perry was operating there, before moving to the United Kingdom in the early 1960s...
, 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:...
, and 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...
, and recorded at Lee Perry's Black Ark
Black Ark
The Black Ark was the recording studio of reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, built in 1973 and located behind his family's home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica...
studio. His "Gee Baby" was a big hit in 1975 in both Jamaica and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He adapted successfully to the early dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
and 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:...
styles in the late 1970s and 1980s, working with producers such as Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and record producer.-Biography:Thompson was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, but spent time with his mother in Queens, New York, and his recording career began around the age of 20 with the self-released "No Other Woman," recorded in Brooklyn, New...
. Campbell's recording of "Late Night Blues" (1980) became a staple of blues parties. Campbell performed with the Stur-Gav sound system in the early 1980s. More recently he has recorded for King Jammy
King Jammy
Lloyd James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio...
, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, and Mafia & Fluxy
Mafia & Fluxy
Mafia & Fluxy are a United Kingdom reggae rhythm section and production team consisting of brothers Leroy and David Heywood , whose careers began with London reggae band The Instigators in 1977...
.
In 1997, he joined Cornell Campbell
Cornell Campbell
Cornell Campbell aka Don Cornell or Don Gorgon 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.-Biography:Cornel has one of the sweetest falsettos of any Jamaican vocalist and uses it...
and 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:...
in a new version 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:...
, the group releasing a self-titled album in 1999.
Campbell has not performed in Jamaica since a stageshow held by Jack Ruby
Jack Ruby
Jacob Leon Rubenstein , who legally changed his name to Jack Leon Ruby in 1947, was convicted of the November 24, 1963 murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Ruby, who was originally from Chicago, Illinois, was then a nightclub operator in Dallas, Texas...
shortly before the latter's death. He continues to tour Europe and North America
Albums
- Gee Baby (1977) Phil Pratt/Sunshot
- Ain't That Loving You (1978) Jamaica Sound (reissued 1994 as Sly & Robbie Presents The Soulful Al Campbell)
- Loving Moods of Al Campbell (1978) Ital
- Mr. Music Man (1978) Manic
- No More Running (1978) Terminal
- Showcase (1978) DEB
- Rainy Days (1978) Hawkeye
- Diamonds (1979) Burning Sounds
- More Al Campbell Showcase (197?) Ethnic
- Mr. Lovers Rock (1980) Sonic Sounds
- Late Night Blues (1980) JB
- The Other Side of Love (1981) Greensleeves
- Dance Hall Stylee (1982) Narrows Enterprise
- Bad Boy (1984) CSA
- Freedom Street (1984) Londisc
- Forward Natty (1985) Move
- Shaggy Raggy (1985) Sampalu
- Reggae '85 (1985) Blue Mountain
- Fence Too Tall (1987) Live & Love
- Ain't Too Proud To Beg - LP (1987) Live & Love
- Bounce Back (1990) Reggae Road
- The Soulful Al Campbell (1994) Rhino
- Revival Selection (1998) Kickin'
- 22 Karat Solid Gold (1998) Reggae Road
- 22 Karat Gold Volume 2 (1998) Reggae Road
- Rock On (1998) Charm
- Hit Me With Music (1998) Hot Shot
- Roots & Culture (1999) Jet StarJet StarJet Star was a United Kingdom record distribution company that grew out of Pama Records in 1978. It was one of the largest distributors of reggae music, the company themselves claiming the title "the world's largest reggae distributors".-History:Jet Star was formed in 1978 by the Palmer Brothers,...
- Deeper Roots (2001) Reggae Road
- Higher Heights (2002) Reggae Road
- Love From a Distance (2003) Cousins
- Tribute to Clement Coxsone Dodd (2004) Reggae Road
- Always In My Heart (200?) Artists Only
- Today, Tomorrow, Forever (200?) Reggae Road
- 24/7 (2006) Reggae Road
- Road Block (1997) Exterminator
- Rasta Time - Lagoon
- Talk About Love - Sonic Sounds
- It's Magic - free world music