T he funeral service for Clarence Linberg Miller (best known as Count Prince Miller) takes place September 4 at Holy Trinity Church in Kensington, London. Miller died from prostate cancer on August 16 at age 84 in a London hospice.

For over 50 years, Miller was a staple in the United Kingdom’s West Indian community. He made his name as a singer and actor, and was associated with soul group Jimmy James and The Vagabonds and Wilbert “Count Suckle” Campbell, a pioneer in the UK sound system movement.

“He was a humble man, very involved in all things community. Count was a foundation of our community in England,” said Anthony “Chips” Richards, a former marketing executive at Trojan Records.

Trojan distributed Mule Train, Miller’s 1971 signature song. It was by far his biggest hit and a show-stopper for many years.

He also made his name as a stage and television actor in the UK. He had a recurring role as Vince in Desmond’s, a popular television comedy based on a West Indian barber shop run by Guyanese Desmond Ambrose, played by Norman Beaton.

Miller’s spirited turn as Pan African giant Marcus Garvey in producer/director Flip Frasier’s epic stage musical, Black Heroes In The Hall of Fame, may have been his best acting performance. It earned him acclaim in the UK and United States where the production toured.

In 2007, Miller was recognised by the Jamaican government which awarded him the Order of Distinction for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music. He is survived by one son, Jean-Pierre Miller.

— Howard Campbell