Earlier this year, ska legend Prince Buster passed away. Unfortunately, last Friday, Prince Buster's record shop, which has operated on Orange street in Kingston, Jamaica for decades, was looted. In the early morning, thieves smashed through the windows, stole reels of Buster's original tapes, thousands of 45s, air conditioning units, speaker systems, musical instruments, including a keyboard and guitar, furniture, including kitchen appliances, exercise equipment, a water tank, carpet, counter tops, barbed wire, a security system, and barrels of clothing which were being collected for charity. Strangely, the thieves left behind presumably valuable plaques which honored Buster's contribution to music. Right now, there are no leads on the crime. Buster's family is offering a reward for information on the looting.
by John Gentile