Today, unfortunately we lost another of the greats. Prince Jazzbo lost his battle with cancer yesterday. Starting out with Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One in the early 70’s, Linval Roy Carter aka Prince Jazzbo is best known for his tremendous work with Lee Perry on Super Ape. He was always an underdog, but had some shining moments. One such moment was his answer to Horace Andy’s “Skylarking” in his cut “Crab Walking”. A crucial and classic cut that everyone should be aware of and own. Big tune!

Prince Jazzbo – Crab Walking

He had a few other notables in “Crime Don’t Pay”, “Imperial I”, and “School” among others, but most of his career was spent as an underdog on the mic, less his stellar work with Perry (Ital Corner is a classic as well). His career was long, but even when he started up the Ujama label, it didn’t have the commercial success that others had during the Dancehall boom. Jazzbo tried, but remained close to his own tastes, able to keep his name up in Jamaican music history his own way and his label in tact. Taking in the older guard like U-Roy and I-Roy, but adding talents that others weren’t interested in with Zebra or Horace Fergueson, Jazzbo was able to keep it at his own pace. A case of I and I will survive, Jazzbo is a testament to a hard working, Jamiacan music ethic. Later in his career, the long lost early release from Studio One Choice of Version from 1973 was finally put out. This record showed the kind of talent he had, but it might have been a case of too little too late. Great to hear the release, but one wonders what path Jazzbo would have been on had it got its proper dues in the early 70’s. Thoughts and prayers go out to Jazzbo’s family. One of the great Reggae artists, Jazzbo’s efforts and contributions to Jamaican music are under appreciated, but will remain etched in the book for future generations to learn from.

Lee Perry and Prince Jazzbo – Croaking Lizard

If you care to donate to the Prince Jazzbo Fund, go here.

Rest In Power Prince Jazzbo!