Prince Far I

**Prince Far I** (c. 1944 – 15 September 1983) was a Jamaican reggae deejay, producer and a Rastafarian. He was known for his gruff voice and critical assessment of the Jamaican government. His track "Heavy Manners" used lyrics against measures initiated towards violent crime.

He was born Michael James Williams in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Williams' first job in the music industry was as a deejay on the Sir Mike the Musical Dragon sound system, also working as a security guard at Joe Gibbs' studio, and later as a bouncer at Studio One, but after recording "The Great Booga Wooga" for Bunny Lee in 1969 (under the name King Cry Cry, a reference to his habit of breaking into tears when angered), he got the chance in 1970 to record for Coxsone Dodd when King Stitt failed to turn up for a session. Dodd was sufficiently impressed to release the resulting recordings, Williams now using the name Prince Far I at the suggestion of another producer he had worked with, Enos McLeod). With a unique deep bass voice and talking over style, preferring to describe himself as a "chanter" rather than a "toaster", he became a popular reggae musician, styling himself "The Voice of Thunder".

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## Links to Kershaw

In Kershaw's autobiography, No Off Switch, he mentions discovering Prince Far I's material on John Peel's show during the 1970's, as a young man. A fan of his music, Kershaw regularly played Prince Far I's material on his programmes, especially those that were released on various reggae compilation albums over the years.

## Shows Played

   1991
* 21 April 1991: Reggae Music Moving (LP - Black Man Land) Virgin
* 15 December 1991: What You Gonna Do On The Judgement Day (v/a CD - The Roots Of Reggae) Music Club

1992
* 16 February 1992: King Of Kings (Compilation CD - Black Man Land) Virgin / Frontline

1994
* 17 September 1994: Psalm 48 (CD - Psalms For I) Pressure Sounds
* 24 September 1994: Psalm 24 (CD - Psalms For I) Carib Gems

1995
* 21 May 1995: Good Music Brother (CD - Dub To Africa) Pressure Sounds

1996
* 21 January 1996: Mansion Of Invention (CD - Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3) Pressure Sounds
* 05 May 1996: Rain A Fall (CD - Under Heavy Manners) Rocky One

1998
* 20 April 1998: Solomon's Wisdom (LP - Health And Strength) Pressure Sounds

1999
* 07 January 1999: Psalm 23 (LP - Psalms For I) Carib Gems
* 08 July 1999: Psalm 49 (CD - Psalms For I) Carib Gems
* 11 November 1999: Reggae Music Moving (Compilation CD - Black Man Land) Front Line

2000
* 27 January 2000: Big Fight (LP - Under Heavy Manners) Prince Far I

2001
* 23 November 2001: Big Fight (LP - Under Heavy Manners) Joe Gibbs

2002
* 03 May 2002: Psalm 87 (CD - Psalms For I) Pressure Sounds
* 14 June 2002: Big Fight (LP - Under Heavy Manners) Joe Gibbs Record Globe
* 20 September 2002: Psalm 23 (CD - Psalms For I) Pressure Sounds
* 11 October 2002: Reggae Music Moving (CD - Black Man Land) Virgin
* 20 December 2002: Psalm 87 (CD - Psalms For I) Pressure Sounds

2003
* 28 February 2003: No More War (CD - Dubwise) Virgin

2004
* 07 March 2004: Wisdom (v/a CD - The Abyssinians And Friends: Tree Of Satta) Blood & Fire
* 31 October 2004: Psalm 87

2005
* 30 January 2005: Throw Away Your Gun
* 17 April 2005: Big Fight Dub (CD - Dub To Africa) Pressure Sounds
* 23 October 2005: Jonny Get Worse (CD - Silver And Gold – 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
* 30 October 2005: Yes Joshua (CD - Silver And Gold - 1973-1979) Blood & Fire
* 13 November 2005: Prince Far I's 1978 Peel Session (Spoken Introduction / Black Man's Land / No More War / The Dream / Foggy Road / Front Line)
* 27 November 2005: 354 Skank (CD - Silver & Gold 1973 - 1979) Blood & Fire

2006
* 08 January 2006: Talking Rights (CD - Silver & Gold – 1973-1979) Blood & Fire

2021
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 2: Reggae Music Moving (album - Black Man Land) Virgin

2022
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 12: Burning All Illusion / The Same Knife (album - Culture & The Deejays At Joe Gibbs 1977-79) 17 North Parade

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs
* Official Website