Mikey Dread, RIP

The great Jamaican DJ/producer Mikey Dread passed away over the weekend from a brain tumour. He was the host of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation's groundbreaking "Dread at the Controls" radio show in the mid to late 70s (notable for playing only music recorded by Jamaican artists--up till then, the JBC played mostly imports from the UK and US); produced The Clash's great "Bankrobber" single (as well as recordings for a host of reggae and dancehall artists); performed on and wrote songs for The Clash's wonderfully messy Sandinista triple LP; and released a string of his own critically-acclaimed albums.

Detailed biographical info may be found here (written by Jo-Ann Green for the All Music Guide), while his obituary from the Telegraph (UK) may be read here.

Check out The Clash's "Bankrobber" video with Mikey Dread at the Controls here.

He will be greatly missed.