Sad news for the reggae world at the beginning of the year 1999. Lincoln Thompson aka Prince Lincoln has died of lung cancer. His tragic passing was completely unexpected. The doctors who examined his state of health diagnosed Lincoln had lung cancer and within a matter of days he was gone. Prince Lincoln Thompson, affectionately called 'Socks' ('Sax' in Jamaican patois) due to his fondness for red socks, began his career in the mid '60's as a member of the Tartans, a rocksteady vocal group which consisted of Cedric Myton, Devon Russell and then Burke Lewis. After their biggest hit "Dance All Night" - released in 1967 on the Federal Records imprint - the group disbanded.

In the early seventies Lincoln Thompson went on to record three solo singles for producer Coxsone Dodd at Studio One: "True Experience", "Live Up To Your Name" and "Daughters Of Zion". And although many fans certainly will have hoped for an entire album of Studio One recorded songs when Lincoln's teamed up with Dodd, it never did happened. However, at that time Prince Lincoln was one of the first Jamaican singer/songwriters to embody the Rastafarian faith in his music. It was the the forming of the Royal Rasses in 1975 (consisting of various harmony singers including Cedric Myton, Keith Peterkin and Clinton 'Johnny Kool' Hall) and the founding of his own "God Sent" label on which he issued "Love The Way It Should Be" and then "Kingston 11" - two of the finest expressions of Rastafarian consciousness ever released - that put the name of Prince Lincoln & The Royal Rasses up where it belonged.

Master of a songwriter and an arranger he was and that he was blessed with a remarkable lead vocal style was evident. "All Time Friend" and "San Salvador" were further testimony to his talent. Together with Junior Murvin's 'Police And Thieves" , "San Salvador" and "Humanity" were some of the most played reggae records of 1976. The owner of Ballistic Records in London actually flew out to Jamaica in 1979, so impressed was he with the sound of Prince Lincoln. He signed him to his label and as a part of the "United Artists" deal they sunk a lot of money into promoting of the band. The "Humanity" album came out, a massive European tour in 1979 followed to launch the "Experience' album, then the release of the albums "Experience" and "Ride With The Rasses". In 1980 Prince Lincoln embarked upon an experiment that was to have far reaching effects for him and his group. Ballistic Records suggested that he should record part of the new album with singer/songwriter Joe Jackson, who had emerged during the new-wave boom of the late 70s and who confessed a strong interest in reggae. The result was the album "Natural Wild" aka "Roots Man Blues". The cost of these admirable ventures was borne by Ballistic Records, who went out of business in the proces. Unfortunately all these efforts failed to bring the desired crossover success and Prince Lincoln retreated from recording business and essentially returned to Jamaica in 1981. Perhaps his shy and assuming ways weren't suited to the part of stardom. He eventually did return to England actually and set up the Rasses Fish & Grocery Store in North London; a co-operative venture run on strictly "ital" lines. It was with his 1996 released "21st Century" album that he made his anticipated comeback reminding the reggae audience that artists of vision and breath-taking originality can never be overlooked for long. Although Prince Lincoln will be sadly missed his peerless roots music will live forever !

Selective Discography:

• HUMANITY (Ballistic 1979)
  
• EXPERIENCE (Ballistic 1980)
  
• RIDE WITH THE RASSES (God Sent 1981)
  
• NATURAL WILD with Joe Jackson (Ballistic 1981)
  
• HARDER NA RASS (Dub of Natural Wild) (Ballistic 1981)