Jamaican music lost yet another prolific pioneer.  Glen Adams, a legendary reggae keyboardist, died at the age of 65.  Adams was a member of the Hippy Boys and the Upsetters and created the “organ shuffle” sound to early reggae.  Most recently, Adams had moved to New York and did some work with modern hip-hop artists, as well as recording with American bands like The Slackers.  His legacy on the music is profound and he will be missed.

You can read more about Glen Adams’ death in Jamaica’s The Gleaner HERE

More sad news from Reggae-land - The wonderful and illustrious Sonia Pottinger, OD has passed away.  Mrs. P. was one of Jamaica’s greatest and most successful music producers, leaving us with countless musical treasures (much like the record below).  She began her career in 1965 when she opened up her Tip Top Record Centre, a shop to support the sale and distribution of records produced by her husband, Linden Pottinger.  A year later, Linden retired, and Sonia took over his Gaydisc label and assumed the producer role.



Other labels followed, most notably Gay Feet (pictured above), High Note, and in 1974, Sonia purchased the Treasure Isle label and catalog from Duke Reid himself (who passed away shorty thereafter).  Mrs. Pottinger continued her prolific career into the mid-80s, producing countless hits for Joe White & Chuck, Culture, Delano Stewart, Stranger & Patsy, The Ethiopians, The Hippy Boys, Baba Brooks and many more.

Mrs. P.; you will be greatly missed, but your legendary music and memory will never fade from the hearts of reggae-lovers everywhere.  May you rest in peace.

One of reggae’s most enduring and beloved superstars, Gregory Isaacs, has passed away at the age of 59.  He will be fondly remembered for his high style and charming melodies, not to mention his countless hits and the massive impact his career made on the reggae world.

Some of us will probably remember Gregory best as the keen locksmith-by-day/reggae-star-by-night bred’ren in “Rockers”.  See a glimpse of his character after the jump.

Rest in Peace, Gregory Isaacs, and thank you for all you and your music has given us.

(more…)

From AV Club:

According to numerous sources, Jamaican singer and producer Sugar Minott has died at the age of 54. The cause of death has not been disclosed, although Minott had recently canceled shows in Canada after suffering from chest pains.

Minott (real name Lincoln Barrington Minott) got his start as part of the Sound Of Silence Keystone sound system spinning rocksteady and reggae tunes, then graduated to singing with The African Brothers in 1969. After releasing a series of singles in the early ‘70s, the group split, with Minott moving on to a successful solo career that was marked by his talent for crafting new songs to go over existing beats, a style that would prove to be very influential on the dancehall scene. Minott’s debut Live Loving for the Studio One label—which included songs like “Vanity” and “Mr. DC”—is considered a pioneering dancehall album.

Above is a video of Sugar Minott’s 1981 hit cover of Michael Jackson’s “Good Thing Going”, which can be found on YouTube HERE.  MNSKA would like to send our thoughts and condolences to Minott’s family.  He will be missed.

Roots reggae artist Vivian “Yabby You” Jackson died on January 14, 2010.  Sources indicate that his death was the result of a ruptured aneurysm. He was 63.

Andrew Barker from Musical Occupation had this to say about Yabby You:

I was shocked and saddened to hear that Vivian “Yabby You” Jackson. He was a great Jamaican artist/ producer. Before I got into “Scratch” Perry and King Tubby, I can remember listening to Yabby You “Jesus Dread” on Vinyl and rocking to the heavy roots. Expect a Yabby You mixtape soon.

You can read his full obituary HERE.

Vincent Ford, the man many have credited with authoring the hit Bob Marley song “No Woman, No Cry,” died on December 28th, 2008 in Jamaica at the age of 68 from complications of diabetes. Though Bob Marley may have written the song, or may have written the melody, songwriter credits were given to “V. Ford”. Vincent Ford was a friend of Marley’s who ran a soup kitchen in Trenchtown, the ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica where Marley grew up. The royalty cheques received by Ford ensured the survival and continual running of his soup kitchen. (source wikipedia)

Last Friday, the worldwide ska community said goodbye to one of its legends.  Alton Ellis, age 70, died of cancer in London.  Long heralded as the “Godfather of Rocksteady,” Ellis jumped onto the Jamaican music scene with his 1967 album Mr. Soul of Jamaica, long considered the definitive album of the rocksteady genre.  He also crafted the song “Get Ready – Rock Steady” which was responsible for the genre’s namesake.  In the early 70′s, Ellis moved to the UK and brought with him his landmark sound.  Even later in life, Ellis continued to put out music and was very active in reggae music.  MNSka will miss him and our wishes go out to his loved ones.

“Trumpet player ‘Dizzy’ Johnny Moore, a founding member of pioneering Jamaican ska and reggae act The Skatalites, has passed away. Moore died at his home in Kingston on Saturday after being released from a hospital where he was being treated for colon cancer.

Moore helped form the band in 1964 with saxophonists Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso and trombonist Don Drummond. The band helped establish the ska sound over 14 months in the 60s before they split up, only to regroup in New York City twenty years later. Moore was one of the most recorded soloists of the early reggae era, appearing on records such as Something Special, Ringo, Man in the Street, Schooling the Duke, the Wailers’ Love and Affection, Lonesome Feeling, and Nice Time. Further details can be found at the Jamaica Observer.

Johnny is survived by his mother, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our deepest condolences go out to his friends and family. ”

This is a big big loss to the ska world. He will be greatly missed.

Article Credit: Punknews.org