I'm passing this along, because I know he has A LOT of friends & fans here in the valley (note image 5)...
-s

Mikey Dread, gone from the control
Hailed as one of reggae greatest innovators
By Basil Walters Observer staff reporter
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Radio disc jock Mikey Dread is dead. He succumbed to a brain tumour late yesterday afternoon at his family home in Connecticut, USA at the age of 54. Born Michael Campbell in Port Antonio, Jamaica, he distinguished himself as an extraordinary studio engineer and presenter at the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) where he came to prominence in the 1970s as "The Dread-the-Control Tower", the name of the late night show he presented at a time when reggae music was scoffed at by many.
Mikey Dread... hailed as one of reggae's greatest innovators

One of reggae's greatest innovators and original radio engineers/technicians, the past student of Titchfield High School, in

2006 celebrated the 30th anniversary of the night programme which he started at the JBC, and revolutionised the after midnight shift making it into the most popular slot on radio, by playing strictly dub music. This innovation is seen by many musicologists as the antecedence of dancehall as we now know it.

Upon leaving the JBC, Mikey Dread ventured into recording and scored with a number of releases such as Weatherman Skanking in combination with Ray I, Barber Saloon, Love the Dread, as well as albums such as Dread at the Control, Evolutionary Rockers and World War III. Over time he attracted the attention of British punk rockers, The Clash, who invited him to produce some of their music, the most famous of which is their single Bankrobber, and contributed to several songs on their 1980 album, Sandinista. Mikey Dread also toured with The Clash across Britain, wider Europe and the US.

He also worked closely with producer Trevor Elliot to launch musical career of singer Edi Fitzroy, who was then an accountant at the JBC. As the news of his passing surfaced yesterday, the Sunday Observer got comments from a number of persons in the media and the music fraternity, all of whom hailed Mikey Dread as a significant contributor to the development of Jamaican music. "His (Mikey Dread's) work, is not only national or regional, but also international," former JBC's journalist Leslie Miles noted. "It spanned the world scene and made Mikey a pioneer broadcaster for playing dub music, and also redefined aspects of radio, especially night time radio" Miles, who is now head of news at Bess FM, also spoke of the struggle Mikey Dread faced at the conservative JBC. Music consultant Colin Leslie pointed out that the consequence of the "fight" he received from the management was putting him on at night, but that backfired.

"Remember he is a Portlander, so I always appreciated the fact that we shared the same alma mater (Titchfield High School), that is something I've always cherished and I hold him in high esteem. Although he was ahead of my era, he was somebody who laid an awesome foundation and was very unique and highly respected," was how Richard "Richie B" Burgess of Hot 102, remembered Mikey Dread.

"We were at JBC together, and in those days when he started at the JBC dreads weren't popular on the air. The powers that be in management really gave him a fight," Ali McNab told the Sunday Observer.

"Michael Campbell, is someone who revolutionised radio in Jamaica when there was still an anti-Jamaican sentiment regarding music and culture. In terms of the emerging dancehall, it was Mikey Dread who popularised it on radio. Although it was late night, he still managed to popularise dancehall music and bring it to the masses," was the perspective of Dennis Howard who also worked on JBC Radio, in the post-Mikey Dread era.

And Irie FM's disc jockey, GT Taylor hailed the late Mikey Dread as a role model. "Reggae music in Jamaica, owes a lot that that brother. He was one man who stood up for reggae in the early '70s, bringing the music to the forefront. He is one of my inspirations."

Veteran singer Freddie McGregor attested to the fact that "Mikey Dread was one of the persons fighting the struggle for reggae music. Mikey and I did a lot of shows together over the years. A wonderful brethren".

Michael Campbell aka Mikey Dread was born in Port Antonio on the North of Jamaica, a far more peaceful place than the tough, hustling city of Kingston - reggae's capital, where they would have regarded anyone from the North as a country boy, not to be taken seriously. But Mikey's first impact on the reggae business was to be a revolutionary one, an impact that meant they had to take him seriously right from the very start. At first Mikey was a radio DJ and audio engineer with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), the Island's establishment radio station. He actually began his broadcasting career in 1976 and somehow landed four whole hours of airtime on Saturday nights. Mikey soon firmly established his "Dread at the Controls" radio show as the Number One Radio Show in Jamaica, due to the fact that he was the first to play rough, deep, revolutionary reggae music on Jamaican radio!! As if this wasn't enough he developed his own unique broadcasting style. His laughing, tangy, bubbling voice was joined by a selection of the wildest jingles ever to hit the airwaves and furthermore he regularly treated his listeners to the wickedest dub plate specials. At last the Jamaican people had a radio show that reflected their music as they knew and loved it. Mikey became a massive hero in Jamaica and was awarded Top Radio Personality of the Year in 1977-1978.However, despite being a hero to the grass roots audience Mikey Dread resigned from Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation in 1979, thanks to fellow broadcasters being jealous of his success and the conservative, reggae-loathing JBC directorship. Mikey decided to expand his career by getting more involved in the actual production of not only his own music (he had already cut a couple of tunes for Lee Perry, Carlton Patterson and Sonia Pottinger), but also the work of others such as Sugar Minott, Junior Murvin, Earl Sixteen, Wally Bucker, Sunshine, Jah Grundy and Rod Taylor.That very same year Mikey Dread started his own DATC label and began releasing records of the aforementioned artists and others, as well as his own popular deejay titles. His first two albums, "Dread At The Controls" and "African Anthem", gave a wide audience a glimpse of the musical mayhem he had been unleashing on the Jamaican airwaves and were well received all over the world. "DATC" moved from strength to strength, with Mikey's production, often mixed with the dub master king Tubby, delivering fascinating singles.
His activities attracted the attention of UK's punk-rock band The Clash, who asked Mikey to work with them. He produced most of the Clash's massive "Sandinista" album, which sold over 3 million copies worldwide, and toasted on a track called "Bank Robber". Mikey then studied at the National Broadcasting School in London where he perfected his media production/radio broadcasting skills, graduating with special commendations in 1980. Mikey Dread used his great and refined engineering talents to further reggae music in the UK and the world. His work in the United Kingdom also included narrating reggae documentaries, hosting series such as Rockers Roadshow and the ever-popular Channel 4 documentary series "Deep Roots Music", thus expressing his believes in a multimedia approach to publicizing reggae. Furthermore Mikey Dread brought Reggae to Netherlands radio with his Friday morning Reggae Show called "Rockers in the Morning" on VPRO in Hilversum in the mid 80s, compliments of a man Mikey still respects for approving it, Dave Van Dyke. Through Dave this became possible and Mikey got a lot of fanmail from all over the region who were really digging the show. His 1984 released album "Pave the Way" did what the title suggest for Mikey's career by appealing to a broad audience with catchy numbers like the track "Reggae Hit Shot", a dance song on the "Hustle" riddim. The album "Happy Family" is another step in the evolution of Mikey upbeat sound. He later recorded "The Source (Of Your Divorce)" for Warner Brothers Records USA, which obtained regularly rotated video airplay on BET as well as on MTV's hip-hop/rap program. Yo MTV Raps MTV's Sunsplash Special, which was shot in his native Jamaica, featured Mikey's video in 1990. Mikey released "Mikey Dread's Best Sellers" (Rykodisc, 1991), a stunning compilation of Mikey's best known songs including Barber Saloon (#1 on Jamaican and British reggae charts in 1979), and the classic "Roots and Culture". Mikey then went on to record "Profile" and "African Anthem Revised" (RAS Records, 1991). He toured in Europe and the USA with Freddie McGregor, Lloyd Parks and We The People Band and also the Roots Radics Band.In 1993, the versatile Mikey Dread was involved in several projects, including his tour of the album "Obsession" and working in TV with the Caribbean Satellite Network (CSN) where he was Program Director and On Air personality as well as Producer of various shows. These shows included "Artists Profile", "New Video Showcase", "Video Dub Plate", "Christmas Around The Caribbean", "Christmas with the Children", "Celebrity Guest DJ", and "The Bob Marley Hall of Fame Induction". Mikey furthered his knowledge of TV/Video Production at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, where he graduated in 1996 with honors and at Lynn University in Boca Raton / Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Communications. Other activities done by Mikey "The Innovator" Dread include working for the Video Jukebox as voice-over talent in several Reggae TV Commercials. The Culture Award of Honor in the Martin's International Reggae Music Awards in Chicago was presented to him in 1994. He also participated in the Caribbean Music Festival as an Entertainment Consultant in Nassau / Bahamas throughout the 1990's. In 1995, he worked as a Radio DJ for WAVS 1170 AM and WAXY-AM 790 in Miami, Florida. In 1996 he participated in the Essential Music Festival as a performer in Brighton, U.K. He worked as a News Photographer for Metro Video shooting daily TV news stories for NBC-6 News station in Miami / Florida and in the summer of 1998 he performed at several European Festivals in Germany, Belgium and Austria. In February 1999 Mikey performed at the 18th Annual Bob Marley Day show in San Diego and also at the Long Beach Arena in California. One of the better character traits of Mikey Dread is that he has refused to over saturate the Reggae market by simply not appearing on every Reggae event. This has helped him to maintain his credibility and mystique.

1979
• African Anthem
• At The Control Dubwise
• Evolutionary Rockers [aka Dread At The Controls]
1982
• Dub Catalogue
• Dub Merchant
• Jungle Signal
• Pave The Way
• Swalk
• World War III [aka Beyond World War III]
[Compilations]
• Best Sellers [197X-9X]
• Best Sellers II [197X-9X]
• The Prime Of Mikey Dread [1978-92]
Productions
• Earl Sixteen - Reggae Sound [1981]
• Junior Murvin - Badman Possee [1982]
• Mikey Dread - African Anthem [1979]
• Mikey Dread - At The Control Dubwise [1979]
• Mikey Dread - Dub Catalogue [1982]
• Mikey Dread - Dub Merchant [1982]
• Mikey Dread - Evolutionary Rockers [1979]
• Mikey Dread - Jungle Signal [1982]
• Mikey Dread - Pave The Way [1982]
• Mikey Dread - Swalk [1982]
• Mikey Dread - The Prime Of Mikey Dread [1978-92]
• Mikey Dread - World War III [1982]
• Singers & Players - Leaps And Bounds [1984]
• Various Artists - Master Showcase [1980]
• Various Artists - Rockers Vibration [1980-82]
Appears on
• A Party Of Dubbers & Toasters
• Arkology
• Auralux Reggae Showcase
• Creation Rockers
• Culture Train
• Disco Plates Collection Part 2
• Down In A Tenement Yard
• Golden Greats Vol 1
• History Of Trojan Records 1972-95
• Joe Gibbs Original DJ Classics Vol 2
• Larks From The Ark
• Music Works Vol 1
• Punky Reggae Party
• Ready When You Dub
• Rockers Vibration
• The Trojan Story Vol 1&2
• Version Studio
Albums engineered by Mikey Dread
Mixing Engineer
• Earl Sixteen - Reggae Sound [1981]
• Mikey Dread - African Anthem [1979]
• Mikey Dread - Dub Merchant [1982]
• Mikey Dread - World War III [1982]
• Mwanamke Mwfrika - African Woman Abroad [1982]
• Zion Initation - Showcase [197X]
Engineer
• Mikey Dread - African Anthem [1979]
• Various Artists - Master Showcase [1980]
As a musician
Bass
• Prince Jammy - Fatman vrs. Shaka In A Dub Conference [1980]
• Scientist - Scientific Dub [1978-80]

1976-1979 

Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation in Kingston / Jamaica Presenter: "Dread at the Controls Show"
Technical Operator: Audio programs both live and recorded.
Awarded: Top Radio Personality in Jamaican Radio based on the unusual impact made on radio listeners and the popularity of recordings made.
Recorded/produced single: "Barber Saloon". Charted at #1 on the local radio charts recorded several Top 10-reggae singles.
Performed live at Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica along with other featured artists including Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Inner Circle, and Third World.
Produced first album "Dread at the Controls" (Trojan Records-London) and "African Anthem" (A Special Edition from Jamaica's radio program for Cruise Records-UK).
Worked at Treasure Isle Recording Studio-Jamaica as Audio Engineer.
Travelled to London on a promotional trip.
1980-1981

Produced several Jamaican artists. 
Recorded album "World War III" for the Dread at the Controls label. The "Breakdown the Walls" single from this album was used in the soundtrack for the movie "Walcott," a British Television Movie Series-aired on Central TV, London. ITV Network.

Attended National Broadcasting School in London, England. Graduated with qualifications in Presentation and Production.
Produced The Clash-Epic Records. First production "Bank Robber/Rockers Galore UK Tour" charted number 12 on the British charts. Highest chart entry in the history of the group. Appeared in the "Bankrobber" video, a CBS Records Production.
Co-produced The Clash, several tracks on "Sandinista" album. 
Co-wrote and performed on 5 tracks. 
"Sandinista" Best Rock Record in 1981.

1982-1983

Employed by Central TV-London as Presenter/Researcher/Narrator for a six-part TV documentary series-"Deep Roots Music" that was aired nationally and across Europe.
Created and produced "Jungle Signal" used as the Soundtrack and Signature Tune for "Deep Roots Music" /CH4, UK

Produced Japanese Rock band Anarchy.
Visited and Performed in Japan with The Mods.
Toured Europe and Scandinavia as support artist for UB40 and produced 10 dub tracks for them. 
Made several appearances and performances on BBC and Sky TV Music Box, London and Bristol / UK.

Live appearances with UB40, Bob Dylan, and Carlos Santana at Rock Music Festival at Wembley Stadium in London and Slane Castle in Dublin, Ireland.
Live appearances on BBC-2 television show Ebony. 
Performed "Pave the Way" "Reggae Hit Shot "(Reggae Christmas) and "Sunday School"
Created TV formats for Rockers Roadshow-a 10 part British TV series for Channel 4 television, commissioned by Central TV, London. Worked at Central TV/Channel 4 as Presenter/Music Director for Rockers Road Show for national broadcast across UK. This was a 10 part youth music series.
Employed at VPRO Radio in the Netherlands as Host/Producer of reggae series-"Rockers in the Morning" a weekly program.
1984

Studied Studio/Recording Techniques at Polytechnic of North London.
Presented Reggae show for Radio West in Bristol, UK.
Presented/produced Reggae Special Reports for BBC Radio 1
for National broadcast across the UK.
Produced several reggae albums. Completed various Station ID's/jingles for various radio networks worldwide.
Hosted live events including "Miss Black UK pageant" in Birmingham.
1985-1988

Produced/presented Reggae Radio special for Australian Broadcasting Corporation 105.7 FM JJJ Radio Sydney, Australia.
Freelanced as Mix Engineer, Music Producer, and Reggae Consultant.
Live appearances in California. Commercial voiceovers for Los Angeles Reggae Festival.
Live appearances on CBS-TV News at 10-Channel 13 TV-Tucson, Arizona.
1989-1991

Headlined the "Tropical Heat Wave Festival" in Tampa, Florida - WMNF Radio. Toured USA with Roots Radics Band and Israel Vibrations Group supporting albums: "Happy Family," "Pave the Way," "World War III," and "S.W.A.L.K."
Recorded single "The Source of Your Divorce" for Warner Brothers Records, Los Angeles. Filmed video at Gene Kelly's house -a Warner Brothers Production.
Contracted to UK radio network Spectrum International Radio as Head Presentation/ Production and Multicultural Afro Caribbean Programming.
Live appearances across Europe with Bunny Wailer, Culture Abyssinians, and Judy Mowatt.
Participated in a reggae tour across USA and Europe with Freddie McGreggor along with Lloyd Parks and "We The People Band." Performed in a European tour with Ziggy Marley, Kid Creole, I-Threes, the Wailers and Freddie McGreggor.
Headliner-USA tour with Roots Radics Band (August -September 1991) to support albums "Profile" (Ras Records) and "Mikey Dread's Best Sellers" (Rykodisc).
Contracted as guest host "Caribbean Love Boat"- Show for FM Yokohama, Japan.
1992

Nominated for NAIRD Award (National Association of Independent Record Distributors) for album "Mikey Dread Best Sellers" (Rykodisc)-a Billboard Magazine Music Award.
Guest host for a Worldbeat, USA TV show "Tropical Beat" filmed live in New York.
Released album "Obsession" (Rykodisc).
Co-produced / co-wrote and performed on Izzy Stradlin's (formerly of Guns and Roses) single "Can't Hear 'Em"(Geffen Records). Production arrangements on Pressure Drop from Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds (debut album-Geffen Records).
Headlined a charity concert for Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves, Cambridge, Massachusetts -to raise money for The Duboise Academy and youths of the community.
"Breakdown the Walls" album soundtrack was used in the USA movie, The Rift.
Headlined a USA tour with the Roots Radics Band to support the "Obsession" album (Rykodisc)
1993-1999
Program Director, Caribbean Satellite Network.
On air personality of reggae music feature specials.
Producer for the following:
1. Artist Profile
2. New Video Showcase
3. Video Dub Plate
4. Christmas Around the Caribbean
5. Christmas with the Children
6. Bob Marley, Hall of Fame Induction
7. Celebrity Guest DJ's
8. Trinidad Carnival
Attended the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale as a full time student majoring in Music/ Video Production. Graduated in 1996 with honors.
In 1994 received international reggae music awards "Martins International Cultural Award of Honor" in Chicago.
Entertainment Consultant for Caribbean Music Festival in Nassau, Bahamas. Did voice- over for radio and TV spots.
Video Juke Box promotion for Terror Fabulous (East West Records) TV commercial voice- over talent.
Voice -over talent for TV Spot for Patra's new album on Columbia Records.
Radio DJ on WAVS 1170 AM in Davie, Florida and WAXY 790 AM in Miami, Florida.

Video Juke Box TV commercial voice over for Bob Marley Promotion.
Performed at Essential Music Festival in Brighton, UK.
TV News Photographer for Metro Video Filming and editing news stories for NBC 6 in Miami, FL.
Performed at Cameo Theater in Miami Beach, Florida with Culture.
TV Broadcast Operator at SKY/DTH Latin America-A Satellite TV Broadcasting Station-utilizing LOUTH automation.
Freelance video editor, editing TV commercials.
Live performances at the European Summer Festivals in Germany, Brussels, and Austria.
Performed at the 18th Annual Bob Marley Day at Long Beach Arena San Diego Sports Arena using School Band.
Performed live in San Francisco at Justice League to a sold out crowd.
Awarded 1999 Communicator Award for Video Editing. For a 60-sec. TV spot for "Boca Raton News."

2000
Appearing live in concert across the USA and Hawaii.
Graduated with honors from Lynn University, Boca Raton / Florida with a "Magna Cum Laude" Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Communications.
Released "World Tour" - CD. His first album release in 5 years.

Produced local Reggae and Hip-Hop artists.
2001
Toured with the "Fully Fullwood" Band (consisting of Peter Tosh's musicians, like George Fullwood on bass and Tony Chin on guitar)
Performed at Bakersfield Reggae Festival and Monterey Reggae Fest in California.
Live appearances in San Francisco (Maritime Hall), Santa Cruz (Palookaville), Berkley, Ashkenaz (California), Maui, Honolulu, and Kauai (Hawaii), Bari and Rome (Italy), Brighton (UK).
Performed at Clearwater Spring Break in Florida with Ja- Rule, 112 and Ziggy Marley (Florida).
Performed at the Hopi- Land Indian Reservation (Arizona), Apache Gold Indian Reservation (Arizona), 
San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Grover Beach, San Diego, Mateel Community Center, Mckinleyville in California.
2002-2003
Released album "Rasta in Control"
Played twice for UCLA, California.
Specially invited to play in Switzerland at the Montreux Jazz Festival to co-headline the festival at the Miles Davis Hall.
Co-headline performance at the Summer Jam Festival in Koln, Germany.
Played live at the Annual Reggae River Splash 2003 in Slovenia, as well as Kozel Klikkfest 2003 in Slovakia, East Europe.
Headlined the "One Love Bob Marley Festival" in Little Rock in Arkansas, "New England Reggae Fest" in Rhode Island, “Jamaica my Weekend” in Fresno, California, Doheny Day's at Dana Point, California and "Reggae Destiny Festival" in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Featured in the BBC / Bravo TV Documentary “History of Reggae Music.”
Recorded a Track for "Red Bull" and played an event in Milan, Italy, which was sponsored by Red Bull Home Groove
2004
Featured artist on "Lips Like Sugar" with Seal for the soundtrack of the Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore -Sony Pictures movie "50 First Dates"
Toured with the "Dread at the Controls" Band in the USA and Europe extensively.
Headline artist at Cal State Monterey Bay University and Cal State Stanislaus, Turlock, California.
Headline artist on Island Festival in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Played Glastonbury Festival, UK.
Featured on BBC TV Highlights of "The Best Of Glastonbury 2004."
Headline artist at St. Pauls Carnival, Bristol, Reggae Festival in Wales, Lambeth County Show at the Brockwell Park, Arches Theatre - Glasgow, Scotland
Headline artist at the Aix en Province in France and the Ja' Sound Festival in Lézan, France.
Appeared live on ABC TV - Morning Show in Portland, Oregon performing "Break Down The Walls" live and interviewed by the hosts of the show.