ASTON Campbell, a member of rocksteady group The Conquerors, died on November 30 in his hometown of Troja, St Catherine. The trio, which recorded mainly for producers Sonia Pottinger and Duke Reid, is best known for the hit songs Won’t You Come Home and Lonely Street.

Shania Campbell, one of Campbell’s four surviving children, told the Jamaica Observer that the cause of death was stroke-related. Her father was 78 years old.

Campbell was born in Comfort Valley, St Mary. He got involved in music during the early 1960s with Basil Daley and Leeford Flemming as The Conquerors.

One of the group’s early recordings was Drop The Ratchet, a collaboration with fellow singer Stranger Cole for Pottinger’s Gay Feet label in 1966. Pottinger also produced Won’t You Come Home, their breakthrough track, the following year.

Lonely Street, produced by Reid, was released in 1968.

Campbell, who lost his sight 20 years ago, gave up the music business in the 1970s and was a supervisor at the Jamaica Railway Corporation. Despite being blind, his daughter said he walked three miles on Sundays to attend church in Facey district.

Aston Campbell is survived by his children (he was predeceased by one), five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His funeral service takes place December 29 at Church of God of Prophecy in Troja.

— Howard Campbell