Admiral T

by Jason AnkenyFrench dancehall singer Admiral T was born Christy Campbell on March 29, 1981, in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. A lifelong fan of the pioneering reggae of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, he also absorbed influences spanning from Caribbean zouk to salsa to traditional African music. At 16 he joined the DJ collective Karukéra Sound System, debuting on the 1997 LP Rapide and scoring a 2000 hit with "Gwadada." In mid-2003 Admiral T exited the KSS to mount a solo career, channeling the spirit of his native Creole culture for his debut album, Mozaik Kreyol. Originally released on the West Indian label Don's Music, the record proved a cult phenomenon and was reissued via the major label Universal in the autumn of 2004. After starring in Jean-Claude Flammand's 2005 feature film Nèg Maron, Admiral T issued his sophomore effort, Toucher l'Horizon, a year later.