Featured Artist For March, 2008:

	Mikey Dread (1954 - 2008) Innovator Engineer Broadcaster Singer Producer
Mikey Dread was born in 1954 in Port Antonio, Jamaica. From an early age, Campbell showed a natural aptitude for engineering and electronics. After he finished college, Campbell started out as an engineer with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC). Campbell wasn't impressed that the JBC's playlists mainly consisted of bland, foreign pop music at a time when some of the most potent reggae was being recorded in Jamaica. He convinced his JBC bosses to give him his own radio program called Dread At The Controls, where he played nothing but reggae. Before long, Campbell (now using the DJ name Mikey Dread) had the most popular program on the JBC. Well-known for its fun and adventurous sonic style, Dread At The Controls became a hit all over Jamaica. Inevitably, JBC's conservative management and Campbell clashed, and he quit in protest. By that time, Campbell had earned a solid reputation as a singer and producer and began recording his own material. Distinctive albums such as Dread At The Controls, Evolutionary Rockers, and World War III all became favorites amongst reggae fans. His collaboration with producers King Tubby and Carlton Patterson stand out as some of the best work each party has done. Campbell's music attracted the attention of British punk rockers The Clash, who invited him over to England to produce some of their music. Although initially suspicious of the strangers, Campbell soon became the best of friends with the band, producing their famous "Bankrobber" single and performing on several songs on their 1980 album Sandinista!. Campbell also toured with The Clash across Britain, Europe, and the US, gaining many new fans along the way. In the 1990s he produced a few songs for Izzy Stradlin and The Ju Ju Hounds, the first album from Guns 'N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin. His 1990 Warner Brothers release “The Source of your Divorce” video was play listed on both MTV and BET television, produced by KRS One and Sydney Mills. The video was produced by Tim Kelly from Hollywood, the famous Gene Kelly’s son. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mikey’s résumé grew to enviable proportions. In addition to his work with The Clash, he recorded with UB40 and helped produce the well-received ‘Deep Roots Music’ documentary on Jamaican music for Channel Four TV in the United Kingdom. After many years working as a producer and singer, Campbell withdrew from the business and moved to Miami where he furthered his college education with courses in electronics and business. Disgusted with several unfair contracts with record companies, Campbell shrewdly waited until all of the existing contracts expired and then regained control over his entire catalogue. Since then, he has been re-releasing much of it on his own Dread At The Controls record label. Most recently MIKEY has collaborated with Seal on a song titled “Lips like Sugar” for the soundtrack of the Adam Sandler/ Drew Barrymore movie “50 First Dates.” Over the last five years Mikey has done numerous recordings for other groups and bands as well as produced new reggae music in Austria, France, Italy, New York, California and Jamaica collaborating with these groups on their albums and co-writing fresh lyrics for these tracks. He is constantly in demand to produce and perform on various projects around the world which keeps him quite busy doing what he likes best- reaching out and helping others. With his new CD - “Life is a Stage” MIKE began a new dimension in his musical career, maintaining the original Jamaican sound in his music with reggae played from a native point of view - strictly roots and culture all the way, no hype no sell out. With “Life is a Stage,” Mikey came full circle, assembling the original “founding fathers of reggae” once again to provide us with another, authentic reggae gem. Having been invited to perform and interviewed at the “Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame,” in Cleveland, Ohio on February 21st, 2007 - MIKEY DREAD decided to use this opportunity to launch the release of his new Album/CD “Life Is A Stage” as a landmark occasion in his multifaceted career. In October 2007, it was announced that Campbell was being treated for a brain tumor and under going treatment at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Mikey Dread Campbell joined our ancestry on Saturday, March 15th 2008 at 6:54pm EST. Michael Dread Campbell was a singer, producer, broadcaster and role model. Jah guidance and respect to his family, friends and fans. Thanks for sharing and being you. Mt. Nebo Family Excerpts from WMC News Dept. Check Out The Artist's Site