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.

Chicago’s roots dub-reggae group The Drastics have been feverishly working on their tribute to the late great King of Pop, Michael Jackson.  The band had this to say about their tribute album MJ A ROCKER:

In honor of his birthday next weekend! Some of you thought it was a joke … but it’s very very real … and finally here … ! Our tribute to Michael Joseph Jackson .. imagine Sir Coxsone in the production seat instead of Quincy and you’re about half-way there … Included are I Want You Back, Rock With You, Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, and The Way You Make Me Feel … These aren’t instrumentals or covers-per-se … you just gotta hear it to believe it …

You can download the album for FREE right HERE or you can stream it below:

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