Cornel Campbell
Born: November 23, 1945
Veteran singer Cornel Campbell has been in the music business as one of the first persons to record a song in Jamaica in the early fifties. As one of Jamaica’s most distinctive voices, Cornel Campbell has been a hit maker for years.
Cornel started out singing in the church choir at the age of ten (10), where he was admired by many for his thrilling smooth voice. At the age of eleven (11), he was encouraged by his good friend Kenneth Samuels, who took him to Rico. Rico, who was a trombone player in those days, then took him to “Sir Coxsone downbeat”(A sound system), where he recorded his first single called “My Treasure” b/w. “Old King Cole”.
Then other singles such as “Late Date”, in 1956, “Rosabelle”, “Forever More”, “Each Lonely Night” and “Dizzy Dame” were made. These were backed up by Don Drummond, Roland Alphanso, Lester Sterling, Drum Bago, Brother Jerry, Lloyd Knibbs, Lloyd Brivett, Johnny Moore, Tommy McCook, Bobby Gaynair, Charlie Organair, and Hosang. These songs were done in the rhythm and blues time, and they contributed in changing the Rhythm and Blues into Ska. Then the Ska Era came in with the Skatalites for Coxsone downbeat. Downbeat was located at Love Lane on Beeston Street, at the time when Cornel Campbell was popular among a number of artists, such as Owen Gray, the Blues Busters, the Charmers, Clancy Eccles, The Moonlighters, Bunny and Skully, Roy Panton etc. During his early years he also took up welding. Several months later he discovered that he had developed another skill, this time it was printing, which he learnt while working at Coxsone, printing record labels, such as Rolando and Pow, Supreme, and various Coxon’s recording labels with the help of a tutor named, Cyril.
He then moved on and did some recordings for King Edwards as recording artistes, wasn’t getting royalties and pays as they should this included “I’ll Ever Be True”, “Gloria”, “Mind Over Matter”, “The Rose of Sharon” and “When I Feel So Lonely”, backed by The Bell Stars, which was also Cornel’s group.
He then moved on to Treasure Isle where he and Jimmy inspired Duke Reid to build Treasure Isle at Bond Street. He and Jimmy then formed the group, The Sensations; this group consisted of four members, Cornel Campbell, Jimmy Riley, Diego and Busta Riley. He and Jimmy also formed a group called Mind Body and Soul, featuring Earnest Wilson and recorded a song called “Who Will Play My Part” for Federal Recording Co.
He and Jimmy Riley also produce the single, “Let the Music Play”. In the early days Cornel recorded several songs at different studios, because Sir Coxon’s, Duke Reid, and King Edward didn’t have their own studios, so the most popular studios in those days included: West Indies Recording Company, R.J.R. and Federal Recording Company, where Duke Reid and Coxsone did most of their recordings.
Another group was The Lynks, featuring Cornel Campbell, Jimmy Riley, Bustie Brown and Lloyd Charmers, in which they did “Let the Music Play”. He then formed another group called The Eternals, with Errol Wisdom and Ken Fyffe. The Eternals were formed in the early sixties, these guys backed up Cornel in his big hits, such as “Stars”, “Queen of the Minstrel” and “Just Can’t Find Loving”, all these are original songs were composed, written and arranged by Cornel Campbell for Studio One. He also played guitar on these. He again moved on to Harry Mudie with The Eternals and did several more recordings, such as “Stop in the Name of Love”, “Lets Start Again”, “Now the Days Are Gone” and “Christmas Joy”.
In the late sixties Bunny Lee introduced himself to Cornel Campbell at a night club where Cornel was playing lead guitar, accompanied by Robert Shakespeare and Carlton Barrett, (Barrett later became a member of Bob Marley and the Wailers band). Bunny Lee requested that Cornel should come and play guitar at his recording sessions. However Cornel refused, because he didn’t want to desert the musicians he’d trained so well. Later on, Bunny Lee came back to Cornel with the same offer. Robert Shakespeare went, because the musicians had so many different obligations and so the band defunct. Bunny Lee made a deal with Cornel saying that if he made it in the recording business, Cornel would make it and that if Cornel made it Bunny Lee would also make it. He also suggested to Cornel that he was one of the best singers he had ever heard and that he should give up his printing career because he could make it in singing and also playing the guitar.
Cornel’s career did not stop there, in the seventies he went on to do many more hits, which included: “Boxing”, “Gorgon”, “No Man’s land”, “Rope In”, “Duke of Earl”, “Natty Dread inna Greenwich Farm”, “Two Timer”, “Dance inna Greenwich Farm” and “My Confession”. Most of Cornel’s songs are originally written by him. These are just some of Cornel’s hits which can be heard worldwide. A few of these songs (like “Darling I Love You”) were backed up by Beris Hammond and Tyrone Taylor.
Many of Cornel’s songs such as “Stars” and “Queen of the Minstrel” are written, arranged and played by him. Many more songs have been recorded, and are yet to be released, and we will still be hearing much more from him in the future. Another recent group is a reform of The Uniques group, backed by Jimmy Riley and Al Campbell.
Cornel is a versatile musician, he plays the guitar, piano and bass, and he has backed up many of Jamaica’s top artistes in recording studios and on stage shows. He also taught many musicians, and formed and played in many bands. He also was responsible for the song, “None shall escape the Judgment” which made Johnny Clarke a big success and it was Cornel who made the rhythm cover version of Bob Marley ‘No Woman no Cry’ for Bunny Lee and gave Johnny Clarke with another hit.
Cornel has also played many important roles in his musical career internationally, and had the pleasure of participating and associating with many great veterans during his pass years. Cornel and Bunny Lee even had the pleasure of shaking hands with the Jackson Five including Michael Jackson and his mother at ‘Kings House’(The official residence of The Governor General)due to the courtesy of the Honorable ‘Edward Seaga’ the prime minister of Jamaica at that time. As a singer, songwriter, arranger, composer and also producer, he is very gifted and dominates whatever he may tend to challenge.
Because of the low income in those days, Cornel had put his occupation first. Those were printing; working at the Offset Printing Co. and Golding Printing Service Ltd. He later invested in other businesses such as clubs, bars and also had a store called Campbell’s Variety Store in Santa Cruz, St.Elizabeth. He also invested in several pieces of lands in Ewarton and St.Elizabeth.
Some biographies you read about Cornel Campbell are not true. Most of them are made from individuals who want to damage Cornel’s carrier, because the reggae situation in those times was like a rat race and some people strongly believe in the power of the press, but Cornel can only assure you that half as never been told.
Cornel says: “I remember when King Tubbys use to deal with sound systems and repair amplifiers. Bunny said to Tubbys ‘Yuh know seh yuh can do recording right here in this room Tubs.’ Tubs replied: ‘No sah a laugh you want dem laugh after me’. Bunny then said to Tubby: ‘Mek Cornel voice two songs and just mek we see how the studio wud a sound’. Tubs reply: ‘I only hope she yuh nah go release and put dem out yah now”. Bunny then said: ‘No man I wouldn’t do that man’, Tubby said ‘ok’. I got backed up by Slim Smith and a brother called Makka. Bunny put out one of the songs, “Ain’t No Love”, which was a cover version and it became successful, Tubs refurbished the room and turned it into the studio that became a giant among other top studios.”
In the 80s Cornel Campbell received a Certificate of Appreciation for Pop Music Development from the prime minister of Jamaica at that time The Honorable ‘Edward Seaga’. Nowadays Cornel Campbell is very active on tour overseas in countries like America, Canada, Japan, and is also doing successful shows in European countries such as France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Belgium etc. However most recently Cornel Campbell was the recipient of an ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Rhythm and Soul Music Award for one of the top songs that reached the R&B/Hip Hop charts which is “Need U Bad” by Jazmine Sullivan. Cornel won this in 2009.
Cornell Campbell stands as one of Jamaica’s greatest and most outstanding unsurpassable singers of all times. Alton Ellis including Bunny Lee told him to take singing more seriously and to take it for a profession. As a singer who is very spiritual he depends mostly on the guidance and inspiration from The Almighty God Jehovah.
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