The ska pioneer Prince Buster, who shaped the course of Jamaican music, has died at his home in Miami at the age of 78.

Like most of the reggae and ska pioneers, Prince Buster was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He became a centrepiece and legend of the burgeoning ska music genre in 1960s Jamaica. According to the BBC, the decision by Prince Buster to use a syncopated beat on tracks such as Little Honey, They Got to Go and Thirty Pieces of Silver is credited as pivotal and the launchpad in ska music’s development and as a result Prince Buster gave himself the moniker “King of Ska”.

The Record Press author was too young to embrace Prince Buster, but not too young to love his protegees Madness and The Specials in the British ska revival of the late 1970s. Prince Buster inspired Madness and The Specials and those  bands inspired my generation, so quid pro quo Prince Buster inspired me and my mates!!

Therefore it is my pleasure to offer this Top 10 best Madness & Specials songs as a Prince Buster tribute –

Top 10 best Madness & Specials songs as a Prince Buster tribute

1)  Madness – Embarrassment ( No4 1980 )

2)  Specials – Gangsters ( No6 1979 )

3)  Madness – Night Boat To Cairo ( No6 1980 )

4)  Madness – One Step Beyond ( No7 1979 )

5)  Specials – Do Nothing ( No4 1980 )

6)  Specials – Ghost Town ( No1 1981 )

7)  Madness – House Of Fun ( No1 1982 )

8)  Specials – Rat Race ( No5 1980 )

9)  Specials – Stereotype ( No6 1980 )

10)  Specials – Too Much Too Young ( No1 1980 )

Pay your own tribute to Prince Buster, by getting your favourite Madness or Specials song as a framed vinyl single or framed CD single. If intended as a gift, you can also personalise it with an inscribed / engraved plaque… ORDER NOW…. www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/