Prince Buster: The Voice Of The People

it hardly gets better than this. The Half Has Never Been Told about the musical innovations of Cecil Bustamante Campbell. he used his fists, but found his voice... and his studio skills... and kept his ears open for original Jamaican music.

and then there was Ska.
and rocksteady.
and breakthrough dub.

"...by the inspiration of I... Prince Buster."

the baddest bands, ever.

"Al Capone" - FABulous Greatest Hits [Sequel]
"Gun The Man Down" - The Outlaw [Prince Buster]
"The Baddest" - The Outlaw [Prince Buster]

"Oh Carolina" - Folkes Bros - Tougher Than Tough [Mango]
"Hard Man Fe Dead" - Tougher Than Tough [Mango]
"Cincinnati Kid" - The Outlaw [Prince Buster]

"Blackhead Chinee" - FABulous Greatest Hits [Sequel]
"Blazing Fire" - Derrick Morgan - I Am The Ruler [Trojan]
"Hey Leroy" - Sam Jones - Geratest Jamaican Beat [Treasure Isle LP]
"No Raise No Praise" - Derrick Morgan - I Am The Ruler [Trojan]
"You Just Can't Win" - Versatiles [Wild Bells_7"]

"Ten Commandments" - FABulous Greatest Hits [Sequel]
... of MAN, given to woMAN, from I...

...Prince Buster.
"Ten Commandments" - Joya Landis (?) - ...Sings His Hit Song Ten Commandments [Prince Buster]
..of woMAN, given to MAN.

payback time.
"Big Five" - FABulous Greatest Hits [Sequel]
Prince Buster...

... NO, you DIdn't.
"Big Seven" - Judge Dread - The Big Twenty Four [Trojan]
"She Was A Rough Rider" - She Was A Rough Rider [Prince Buster]
"Wash Wash" - FABulous Greatest Hits [Sequel]
"Happy Reggae" - The Outlaw [Prince Buster]

"Burke's Law" - The Outlaw [Prince Buster]
"The Scorcher" - She Was A Rough Rider [Prince Buster]
"Black Power" - 7" Wild Bells
"Taxation" - She Was A Rough Rider [Prince Buster]
"Too Hot" - Specials - The Specials [Crysalis]
"Too Hot" - Buster - FABulous Greatest Hits [Sequel]

"Here Comes The Bride" - ...Sings His Hit Song Ten Commandments [Prince Buster]
"Madness" - FABulous Greatest Hits [Sequel]

Friday, May 24th, Prince Buster, "The Voice Of The People"

on Friday comes the much-anticipated presentation of the genius of Prince Buster as part of our Rock Marathon Fund-Raiser.

Cecil Bustamante Campbell, AKA "Prince Buster" is an unsung innovator of music on the little Island of Jamaica, promoting homegrown stylings long before Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's supply of R&B records from America (for his soundsystems) slowed to a trickle. with his skills in the ring, he was chosen by Coxsone to "protect" his sound systems... recorded the almost-Nyabinghi rhythm of The Folkes Brothers, revolutionizing the syncopation of ska to come... created his own label... founded his own record store... embraced the muslim faith... and gifted the world with wildly popular music which resonated globally for decades. And, he's still with us. a man of many facets.

my favorite Prince Buster story involves a later tour of the UK, just as such bands as The Specials and Madness were busting out with covers of his tunes: once learned about by the Vespa/Lambretta mod-types, they would escort his tour bus to the venues. what a spectacle that must have been.

for two hours on Friday, we give the Prince of Blue Beat our own virtual motorcade to the airwaves.

from MOJO magazine, and The Specials' Jerry Dammers.

and, YouTube:




last week's Che impression?
slightly ahead of the curve.

World 'A Reggae

our first offering for the 2009 Folk & Rock Fund-Raising Marathon. five days of Folk-five days of Rock.

there are two world-recoginzed icons in these days and times: the graphic renderings of Che Guevara, and any image of Bob Marley. we recognize how the images influence the world spirit.

From all points of the compass, reggae music erupts. here are two hours to illustrate.

"Hamady Boirot/Yelle" {Mango} - Macka B/Baaba Mal - Yam Toro
UK DJ, Malian maestro
"World 'A Reggae" {Island} - INI Kamoze
"Piste" {MP3} - Israel Foundation
Haiti
"Strong Will" {Sacred Sounds} - Midnite/Youssoupha Sidibe - For All
St. Croix/Mali
"Three Little Birds" {Island} - Bob Marley & the Wailer - Exodus

"All Good Things" - Pacha Massive - MP3
from Brooklyn... by way of Brazil
"el Matador" {SONY Latin} - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - Vasos Vacios
Argentina
"Padre Nuestro" {Nacionale} - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - Luz Del Ritmo

>"Ouelli el Darek" {Barclay} - Khaled - Sahra
via Algeria...with the Wailers, I-Threes
"Orphan's Cry" - Taj Weekes - Deidem
St. Lucia
"Until We Burn In The Sun" {Side One Dummy} - Bedouin Soundclash - Street Gospels
Canada
"Riot" - Wyclef Jean - Memoirs Of An Immigrant
Haiti... The World.

"Qem Avisa" - Djambi - Keep This Feeling Brazil
"PÈrolas Aos Povos" {Putumayo} - Rita Ribiero - PÈolas Aos Povos
Bahia

"Marilou Reggae" {Sunnyside} - Serge Gainsborough - Aux Amres, et cetera
Gauloise-saturated French...with the Wailers Band, I-Threes (1979)
"Big Man" {MOONSka} - Dr. Ring Ding - Dandimite
Deutschland Horns!
"Dub The Frequencies" {Side One Dummy} - Golgol Bordello - Super Taranta!
Ukraine
"Slave Driver" {Island} - Bob Marley & the Wailers - Catch A Fire

"Fish & Poi" {Fat Katz} - Sean Na-Auao - Fish & Poi
Hawaii!
"Seti" {MP3} - I-LASKA
Russia

2009 Folk/Rock Marathon Fund Raiser

From Friday, April 17th to Sunday, April 26th, WTJU/Charlottesville embarks upon its semi-annual solicitation of support from its listeners with ten days of special programming from the Folk and Rock dpeartments. A non-commercial station (accepting nor broadcasting commercials, in keeping with our philosophy of independence in content and quality), except for a minimal paid office staff, all announcers are volunteers bringing their depth of knowledge and love of music to their programs. no perks. rarely a ticket to a free show. It has to be love, right?

WTJU is only partly supported by the University of Virginia, therefore the remaining funds necessary to continue operation (electricity, transmitter, equipment, upgrades) come from the listeners during this time. And, aside from some amazingly inventive programming, "premiums" (specialized t-shirts, CDs, Gift certificates, etc.) are provided as "enticements" (though, sometimes worth more than the monetary pledge of support). it's almost crazy.

Even as varied as our weekly programming already is, this is when it gets really interesting. Our programming schedule for the Marathon can be downloaded , but there are offerings from Hawaiian to latin to African... from the Velvet Underground to the Beatles... gospel to Bob Dylan to Can to Bonnie "Prince" Billy. It's a sound riot, not to be missed. when employed, I'd take a vacation just to take it all in.

I'll be active, as well. this Friday (17th) from 2-4PM (easten/US) i'll be offering (taken from our program guide):

World 'A Reggae
The seeds sown from Bob Marley's legacy continue to sprout around the world. Our effort to support the Sound Choice in Central Virginia travels globally to witness reggae from the UK, Africa, Germany, Madagascar, Japan, Hawaii and all points in between.

this means Lucky Dube, the Mandators, Majek Fashek, Golgol Bordello, Bedouin Soundclash, Kreyol Syndicate and many others.

...and, on Friday, 24th, 2-4PM(eastern/US):

One Step Beyond: Prince Buster
boxer, self-promoter, and the man who created original Jamaican music with ska:
that's what he tells us--Goldfinger verifies. From his Soul Shack to pioneering experimentation with dub, Cecil Bustamante Campbell is still a force to be reckoned with... support WTJU's Spring Fund Drive, or he'll send "Al Capone" after you.

in keeping with the opportunities for our announcers to flex past their traditional shows, i also present on Thursday, 23rd, from 8-10AM:

Roy Orbison: Dark Star
From Wink, Texas to Sun Records, solo stardom to Traveling Wilbury, welcome to Goldfinger's contribution to the Spring Folk Fund Drive as we musically trace the theatrics, tragedies and triumphs of The Other Man In Black.

i told you it was "varied".

check out our program guide, enjoy music at its best... and pledge your support, if the spirit moves you.
it can be done, all online.

it's gonna Rock, Folks.

Money Worries... setlist, 3 April 09

it's a poor man's worry. 633,00 unemployed in March, alone, here in the US.
"when you've got nothin', you got nothin' to lose", quoth Bob Dylan.

but, oh, yes... it can always be worse.

Be Thankful for the circumstances of the place of your birth.



"S-90 Skank" - Big Youth - Tougher Than Tough [Mango]
AKA Augustus Manley Buchanan
"Z-90" - Trinity - Shanty Town Determination [Blood and Fire]

"Money Worries" - Maytones - Their Greatest Hits [Heartbeat]
...with DJ I-Roy
"30 Pieces" - Perfect - Born Dead With Life [Irievibrations]
"No Matter What The Crisis" - Lutan Fyah - Africa [2B1]
"Crisis" - Bob Marley & the Wailers - Kaya [Tuff Gong]
"Together Dub/Green Light" - Dub Specialist - DUB [Heartbeat]

"How Can I Be Ungrateful" - Fanton Mojah - Sronger [Greensleeves]
"Roots" - Etana - The Strong One [VP]
"Selassie Bring It On" - Midnite - For All [Sacred Sounds]
(St. Croix)...with Youssoupha Sidibe

"Look Pon You" - The Conquerors - Musical Feast [Heartbeat]
"Be Thankful/Dubbing In The Backseat" - Bunny "Ruggs" Clarke - Shocks Of Mighty [ATTACK!]

"Words Of Divine" - Sizzla - MP3
"Stay With You" - Tarrus Riley - Parables [VP]"Start All Over" - Clinton Feareon - A Love I Can Feel [Mossburg]

"Reflections of Don D" - Johnny "Dizzy" Moore - MP3"Reincarnate" - Ras Tesfa McDonald - MP3


"Blood Of The Prophets" - Max Romeo - Open The Iron Gate [Blood and Fire]
"Harbor Shark" - Wailing Souls - Calling Rastafari [Nighthawk]
"I Shall Be Released" - Heptones - Sea Of Love [Heartbeat]
"The Earth Dies Screaming" - UB40/Ken Boothe - Fathers Of Reggae [Virgin]
"The Earth Dies Screaming" - UB40 - UB40 Files [Virgin]
(vinyl)

"Tomorrow" - Ken Boothe - A Man And His Hits [Studio One]
(vinyl)
"Home, Home, Home" - Ken Boothe - Mr. Rock Steady [Studio One]
(vinyl)
"If I Follow My Heart" - Dennis Brown - Foul Play [A&M]
(vinyl)

Upcoming Shows (in the Virginia area)

Outback Lodge 917 Preston Ave, Charlottesville
Reggae Night with Stable RootsEvery Wednesday through April

Canal Club Shockhoe Bottom, Richmond
Jah Works/I-ternals
Sat 4th

Nightclub 9:30 815 V. St, Washington, DC
UB40
Tues April 5th

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Fri/Sat April 8th-9th

Ben Harper & Relentless7
Mon May 4th