Alphonso "Al" Campbell (born 31 August 1954) is a Jamaican
reggae singer active since the late 1960s.
Biography
Born in
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 Inter ...
, 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 Studio One or Studio 1 may refer to:
* Studio One (software), digital audio workstation software, developed by PreSonus
* ''Studio One'' (American TV series), a 1948–1958 American television anthology series
* ''Studio One'' (Emirati TV progra ...
.
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
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. Despite the rudimentary set-up and dated eq ...
studio.
His "Gee Baby" was a big hit in 1975 in both Jamaica and the
United Kingdom.
He adapted successfully to the early
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.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rou ...
and
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.Larkin, Col ...
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
Jack Leon Ruby (born Jacob Leon Rubenstein; April 25, 1911January 3, 1967) was an American nightclub owner and alleged associate of the Chicago Outfit who murdered Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963, two days after Oswald was accused of th ...
shortly before the latter's death.
[Campbell-Livingston, Cecilia]
Al Campbell is 'Man from Studio One'
. ''Jamaica Observer''. 27 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-2-28. 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
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.Larkin, Col ...
'' (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
*''Road Block'' (1997) Exterminator
*''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 Star
*''Today, Tomorrow, Forever'' (2000) Reggae Road
*''Deeper Roots'' (2001) Reggae Road
*''Always In My Heart'' (2001) Artists Only
*''Higher Heights'' (2002) Reggae Road
*''Love From a Distance'' (2003) Cousins
*''Tribute to Clement Coxsone Dodd
Clement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd (26 January 1932 – 4 May 2004) was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond.
He was nicknamed "Coxsone" at school due to his talent a ...
'' (2004) Reggae Road
*''24/7'' (2006) Reggae Road
*''Rasta Time'' - Lagoon
*''Talk About Love'' - Sonic Sounds
*''It's Magic'' - free world music
References
External links
Al Campbell at Roots Archives
Al Campbell discography at ReggaeID
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Al
AllMusic people
Jamaican reggae musicians
Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica
1954 births
Living people
The Uniques (Jamaican group) members
Greensleeves Records artists
Rhino Entertainment artists