Legendary reggae producer and artiste Michael 'Mikey Dread' Campbell died at age 54 on March 15 in his home in Connecticut, USA, from a brain tumor. The Jamaica Observer reports that a service to celebrate his life will be held in Stamford, Connecticut on Sunday March 30 at the Downer Funeral Home. His burial is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, in his native parish, Portland, Jamaica. Services will he held at the Anglican Church in Port Antonio and his remains will be buried at the Prospect Cemetery.

Mikey Dread was most highly regarded for his role as an engineer and disc jockey and founder of the innovative 1970's Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation's 'The Dread at the Control Tower', an after-midnight dub-only radio show he created when reggae music was still in it's infancy. His strictly dub format is credited by some as the originator of dancehall music. In 2006 the program celebrated it's 30th anniversary.

Mikey Dread's talents extended beyond the DJ booth: he also recorded albums and singles including Dread at the Control, Evolutionary Rockers and World War III. His singles included Weatherman Skanking, Barber Saloon, and Love the Dread. He produced many tracks for The Clash and toured with them.

The Jamaica Observer also quoted GT Taylor, Irie FM disc jockey's declaration that "reggae music in Jamaica owes a lot that that brother. He was one man who stood up for reggae in the early '70s, bringing the music to the forefront."

Rest in peace Mikey Dread.