Hugh Mundell

Born 14 June 1962 in Kingston, Jamaica and died 14 October 1983

A teenage prodigy who made one of the great Roots records "Africa Must Be Free By 1983" at the age of 16. Although produced by [a=Augustus Pablo] Mundell wrote all the tunes, thereby earning himself the nickname of "The Blessed Youth"

Introduced to reggae by a friend of the family, [a=Boris Gardiner] Mundell recorded his first session at the age of 13, and at the time of his death had produced 5 LPs, numerous singles and run the [l131540] label. He made some deejay cut and sound system sessions under the nama [a2787931]

What seemed likely to be a brilliant career was cut short when Mundell was shot in a car he was travelling in with [a=Junior Reid]. Accounts of the incident are muddled, with some accounts reporting that it was over an argument about a fridge, others that it was in revenge for a burglary, others still that it was over a woman. Whatever the reason, his death robbed the world of reggae of a shining light.