Born. Michael Williams, c.1944, Spanish Town, Jamaica, died. 15 September 1983.

Prince Far I, the Voice of Thunder, was originally a bouncer at StudioOne, Jamaica's premier record label of the 60's and early 70's. A huge, muscular figure with impressive facial scars, he was known as a gentle giant with hidden depths. One day in 1970 King Stitt, the regular DJ at Studio One had failed to turn up to voice a track, and Michael the bouncer persuaded the producer, Coxsone Dodd to give him a try. Impressed, Dodd named the new artist King Cry-Cry and a legend was born.

After a couple of records as King Cry-Cry, he renamed himself Prince Far I. A gruff, deep, slow-burning rhymer, his talents at first appeared limited although Far I was built to last: while other DJ's careers fizzled like firecrackers, Far I retained his status throughout his life. when he really let rip, as on his 1977 album "Under Heavy Manners", he was awesome. His "Psalms For I" (1976) remains a roots classic today, and his Trojan Records albums, "Free From Sin", "Jamaican Heroes", and "Voice Of Thunder", were all of a high standard. A brief liaison with Virgin Records brought him a wider, rockier audience, as did his "Cry Tuff Dub Encounter" (1976-1979) series of dub albums, originally cut for his own Jamaican label Cry Tuff.

Eventually Far I spent a fair portion of his time in England, where he recorded as part of 'singers and players' for Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound label. The pair worked together well, particularly on the "Virgin" single, an undistinguished swipe at Far I's previous label. UK gigs were frequent , with Far I, dressed in biblical robes, 'chanting down Babylon' with the help of a hundred of white kids, whom he genially met and signed autographs for after the show.

However, just as he was starting to build this following, he was shot dead in Jamaica, yet another victim of Kingston's regular street violence, one year short of his 40th birthday.

Albums:
1. Psalms For I (Carib Gems 1976)
2. Under Heavy Manners (Joe Gibbs 1977)
3. Message From The King (Front Line 1978)
4. Long Life (Front Line 1978)
5. Cry Tuff Dub Encounter (Cry Tuff/ Hit Run 1978)
6. Free From Sin (Trojan 1978)
7. Cry Tuff Dub Encounter, Part 2 (Cry Tuff/ Front Line 1979)
8. Jamaican Heroes (Trojan 1980)
9. Showcase In A Suitcase (Pre 1980)
10. Cry Tuff Dub Encounter, Part 3 (Cry Tuff / Daddy Kool 1979)
11. Livity (Pre 1979)
12. Cry Tuff Dub Encounter, Part 4 (Cry Tuff / Trojan 1981)
13. Voice Of Thunder (Trojan 1981)
14. Musical History (Trojan 1983)
15. Spear Of The Nation (Kingdom 1984)
16. Umkhonto We Sizwe - Spear Of The Nation (Tamoki Wambesi / Greensleeves 1983/1990)
17. Together with the Suns Of Arqa: The Musical Revue (1989, 1983 live recording- cassette only)
Compilations:
18. Black Man Land (Front Line 1990)
19. Dubwise (Front Line 1991)