Michael George Haynes (3 March 1957 – 16 December 2017), known professionally as Michael Prophet, was a Jamaican roots reggae singer known for his "crying" tenor vocal style, whose recording career began in 1977. Prophet's first recordings were for producer Yabby You in 1977, debuting with the single "Praise You Jah Jah", which had actually been written five years earlier. During the first half of the 1980s he recorded for producers such as Don Mais, Al Campbell, Sugar Minott, Winston "Niney" Holness, and Winston Riley, cementing his status as one of Jamaica's most popular singers. After living in Miami for a time, he moved to England. Prophet died from a cardiac arrest in Bedford, England, on 16 December 2017, aged 60. He had been battling lung cancer and was suffering from brain tumours.
Links To Peel
As a fan of roots reggae music, Peel would often play artists from that genre, including Michael Prophet, whose songs were quite frequently played by the DJ in the 80's. In the 90's and 00's, his music was rarely played by Peel amongst competition from upcoming roots reggae artists, but after his death, it was found that he had some of Michael's records in collaboration with Yabby U in his Record Collection: Y.
Shows Played
- 25 March 1980: Fight To The Top (LP – Serious Reasoning) Island
- 26 March 1980: Serious Reasoning (LP - Serious Reasoning) Island
- 1981
- 17 September 1981 (BFBS): Gunman (album - Michael Prophet) Greensleeves GREL 27
- 17 November 1981: Youthman (album - Michael Prophet) Greensleeves GREL 27
- 29 December 1982 (with Yabby You & Scientist): Sufferation & Starvation (LP - At The Dub Station (King Tubbys)) Vivian Jackson
- 1982
- 01 June 1983 (BFBS): Come On Love Me (Tonight) (10") Simba
- 1985
- 24 March 1985 (BFBS): Cease-Fire (album - Cease Fire) Move MVLP 2
- 11 June 1985: Emmanuel Road (album - Cease Fire) Move
- 24 June 1985: Trouble Me (album - Cease Fire) Move
- 1986
- 23 April 1986: Nuh Call Mi John Boops (7") Techniques
- 12 November 1986: Superstar Mixup (12" - Superstar Mixup / One For The Money) Greensleeves
- 19 November 1986: Superstar Mixup (12" - Superstar Mixup / One For The Money) Greensleeves