Mikey Dread

Mikey Dread, born Michael George Campbell in 1954 in Port Antonio, Jamaica, was a pioneering reggae singer, producer, and broadcaster with a strong background in engineering and electronics. After studying electrical engineering, he joined the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) in 1976, where he challenged conservative playlists by launching the groundbreaking radio show Dread at the Controls, focused almost entirely on reggae music. The show became hugely popular across Jamaica and helped cement his reputation as a bold innovator in broadcasting and reggae culture. Alongside his radio career, Mikey Dread emerged as an influential recording artist and producer, working with figures such as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Joe Gibbs, and Carlton Patterson, and later founding his own DATC label. His albums Evolutionary Rockers and World War III showcased his distinctive roots reggae sound. In 1980, his career expanded internationally when he collaborated with British punk band The Clash, producing their hit “Bankrobber,” contributing to Sandinista!, and touring extensively with them. He also worked with UB40, Singers and Players, and many other reggae and international artists, further bridging reggae with punk and alternative music scenes. In later years, Mikey Dread relocated to Miami, where he focused on education, television production, and regaining control of his music catalogue, which he reissued under his own label. He continued performing at major festivals such as Montreux Jazz and Glastonbury and remained active in collaborative projects until illness halted his work. Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007, Mikey Dread died in March 2008, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a visionary broadcaster and a key figure in taking reggae to global audiences.