The definition of the word, IRIE is total peace with your current state of being. It is the way you feel when you have no worries. Today’s musical hit, “Dizzy (Herb Smoker)” from MIKEY DREAD sings about the mystical state of mind when one is dizzy. We know what that means. Michael Campbell will always be known as Mikey Dread to his legions of fans around the world. He was one of the most influential performers and innovators in reggae music. His abilities, technical expertise, and unique vocal delivery created a unique sound that lets you know it’s “Dread at the Controls”. (the name of his radio show) Mikey was a technical wizard and held degrees in engineering and electronics. He started his career as an engineer for the Jamacian Broadcasting Corporation in 1976 and that led to him hosting the most popular Jamaican radio program of all time and the first to play only reggae music. He has played alongside reggae greats Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Inner Circle, and Third World. He has shared the stage with Bob Dylan, UB40 and Carlos Santana. He produced music for and toured with The Clash, and he has won more awards than I could list here. Mikey was diagnosed with a brain tumor in October of 2007 and died on March 15th earlier this year. It is not too late to get to know this amazing artist through the legacy of music he has left here for us to enjoy. If you visit his web page at mikeydread.com you will hear his famous voice, thick with Jamaican accent, welcoming you to his page and inviting you to look around. If you haven’t already, I would take him up on that invitation. Thanks Mikey for making us feel so Irie for all these years!

Mikey Dread
“Dizzy ( Herb Smoker)” (mp3)
from “The Prime of Mikey Dread”
(Dread at the Controls)

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Tags: michael campbell, mikey dread, Podsafe Music

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Podsafe Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a trackback from your own site.