Prince Far I

Biography

Prince Far I (born Michael James Williams) was a legendary Jamaican reggae artist and deejay who emerged as one of the most distinctive voices in roots reggae during the 1970s.[1][2] Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1945, he grew up in the Waterhouse area of Kingston, where he attended sound system dances that inspired his early career.[2][4] He began his professional journey as lead DJ with the Sir Mike the Musical Dragon Sound System, later working as security at Studio One under producer Coxsone Dodd.[1][2] His deep, resonant voice and innovative chanting style—which he preferred to call "chanting" rather than "toasting"—earned him the nickname "The Voice of Thunder."[1][2]

Prince Far I's recording career took off in the early 1970s with producers like Bunny Lee and Coxsone Dodd, but his artistic vision crystallized with his 1975 debut album Psalms for I, produced by Lloydie Slim.[2][3] This groundbreaking work featured biblical recitations over heavy rhythms and established his unique style as both spiritually committed and sonically innovative.[2][3] Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, he released numerous albums including Under Heavy Manners (1976), Message from the King (1978), and the influential Cry Tuff Dub Encounter series, which he produced himself on his own Cry Tuff label.[1][3] His music consistently addressed social issues affecting Jamaica while maintaining strong Rastafarian themes and spiritual messages.[1][3] Prince Far I's last recorded performance was in Manchester, England in 1982 with the band Suns of Arqa, documented on his album Musical Revue.[1] He passed away on September 15, 1983, in Kingston, Jamaica, while working on the album Umkhonto We Sizwe with producer Roy Cousins.[1]

Fun Facts

• Prince Far I preferred to call himself a 'chanter' rather than a 'toaster,' distinguishing his vocal style and approach to reggae music from other deejays of his era.[1]
• His debut album Psalms for I was specifically dedicated to people who couldn't read the Bible themselves, as he recited biblical passages over heavy reggae rhythms.[1]
• Prince Far I recorded a track called 'Virgin' for On-U Sound Records that humorously criticized Richard Branson and Virgin Records' treatment of him as an artist.[2]
• He established his own record label, Cry Tuff, in 1976 with the subtitle 'Wisdom Man,' through which he released many of his self-produced works and maintained creative control over his music.[2][3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Bunny Lee - Early producer who first recorded Prince Far I in the early 1970s (The Great Wooga Booga (1969)) [Early 1970s]
• Coxsone Dodd - Studio One producer who employed Prince Far I as security and gave him recording opportunities (Cain And Abel, I Had A Talk, Queen Of The Minstrel) [Early 1970s]
• Lloydie Slim - Producer of Prince Far I's seminal debut album that established his artistic direction (Psalms for I (1975)) [1975]

Key Collaborators

• Adrian Sherwood - UK producer and engineer who worked closely with Prince Far I; described as a master-pupil relationship where Sherwood learned studio craft from Far I (Hitrun label releases, On-U Sound Records productions) [Late 1970s-1980s]
• Suns of Arqa - Reggae group that Prince Far I performed and recorded with (Musical Revue (1982), Wadada Magic (1983)) [1982-1983]
• Singers & Players - Reggae vocal group featuring Prince Far I on On-U Sound Records (Bedward The Flying Preacher, Autobiography, Merchant Ship, Virgin) [Late 1970s-1980s]
• Roy Cousins - Producer who worked with Prince Far I on his final album project (Umkhonto We Sizwe (unfinished)) [1983]
• Ari Up (The Slits) - Provided backing vocals on Prince Far I's recordings (Jamaican Heroes, other vocal collaborations) [Late 1970s-1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Adrian Sherwood - Sherwood's production style and approach to dub reggae was heavily influenced by Prince Far I's mentorship; Far I's vocal samples continued to be used in Sherwood's On-U Sound releases (On-U Sound Records catalog) [1980s onwards]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #deejay, #dub, #jamaican