Prince Far I
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Prince Far I (1945–1983), born Michael James Williams, was a reggae toaster and producer and a Rastafarian who was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Originally Prince Far I worked as a security guard, but in the early 1970s he got involved in the Jamaican recording industry, first working under the name of King Cry Cry. With a unique deep bass voice and talking over style, he became a popular reggae musician. One of his albums, Psalms For I, featuring the Lord's Prayer and various psalms, was dedicated to the illiterate who could not read the Bible for themselves. He also collaborated with UK On-U Sound Records and may be considered a mentor figure to Adrian Sherwood. He was shot in 1983, and died in the hospital.
He is referred to by The Clash in their single "Clash City Rockers".
Discography
- Psalms For I (Carib Gems, 1975)
- Under Heavy Manners (Joe Gibbs, 1976)
- Message from the King (Virgin Front Line 1978)
- Long Life (Virgin Front Line, 1978)
- Cry Tuff Dub Encounter (Cry Tuff/Hit Run, 1978)
- Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Part 2 (Cry Tuff/Virgin Front Line, 1979)
- Free From Sin (Trojan, 1979)
- Dub To Africa (Price Far I, 1979)
- Jamaican Heroes (Trojan, 1980)
- Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3 (Cry Tuff/Daddy Kool, 1980)
- Showcase In A Suitcase (Pre, 1980)
- Livity (Pre, 1981)
- Voice of Thunder (Trojan, 1981)
- Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 4 (Cry Tuff/Trojan, 1981)
- Musical History (Trojan, 1983)
- Musical Revue / Suns of Arqa Live with Prince Far I (1983)
- Umkhonto We Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) (Kingdom/Tamoki Wambesi 1984)
- Black Man Land (1990)
- Dubwise (1991)
- Cry Freedom Dub (1994)
- In the House of Vocal & Dub with King Tubby (1995)
- DJ Originators Head To Head Volume Two Prince Far I & Trinity (1996)
- Health & Strength (Pressure Sounds, 1998)
- Megabit 25, 1922-Dub (1998)
- Ten Commandments (1999)
- The Golden Years 1977-1983 (1999)
- Heavy Manners: Anthology 1977-83 (Trojan, 2003)
- Silver & Gold 1973-1975 (Blood and Fire, 2005)
External links
- [Tribute site to Prince Far I]
- [Prince Far I discography]
- [All Music Guide biography]
- [Prince Far I information] at unofficial On-U Sound site
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