Philip “Fatis” Burell July 23, 1954 – December 3, 3011
Philip “Fatis” Burrell was a well-respected reggae producer, artist manager, and owner of the influential label, Xterminator Records. By most accounts, he was one of the most successful producers of the modern reggae era. Burrell’s first credit was likely as producer of Sugar Minott’s “More Dogs To The Bone” in 1984. Around that time, he also started his first label, Kings & Lions. A couple of years later, Burrell launched Vena Records where he helped launch the careers of Sanchez and Pinchers. He also released records by such established greats as Gregory Isaacs and Frankie Paul on Vena. Over the course of his career, Burrell also worked with – either as their label head, producer, or manager – Luciano, Sizzla, Cocoa Tea, Ras Shiloh, and Everton Blender, to name a few. On December 3, 2011, Philip “Fatis” Burrell passed away from complications of a mild stroke he suffered two weeks earlier. He was 57.
Wycliffe “Steely” Johnson
DOB Unknown – September 1, 2009
Steely Johnson was a keyboardist and noted Jamaican reggae producer who worked with Cleveland Browne as Steely & Clevie. Formed in the late ’80s while playing onBob Marley’sConfrontation, the dancehall production team went on to work which such artists as No Doubt, the Specials and Bounty Killer. Johnson’s first significant gig was playing with Sugar Minott during the ’70s. He also worked with Augustus Pablo and co-founded the Roots Radics. Suffering from diabetes and kidney problems, Johnson was in New York seeking treatment. He died of heart failure at Brookhaven Hospital on September 1, 2009.
Lincoln “Sugar” Minott
May 25, 1956 – July 10, 2010
Sugar Minott was a reggae pioneer who began his career during the late ’60s as a member of the African Brothers. Their early recordings are noted to have shown the Rastafaris’ influence on the development of reggae music. Minott soon went to work at Coxsone Dodd’s legendary Studio One as a back up musician, singer and overall apprentice, eventually branching out to make his first solo records there. His recordings of the late ’70s and early ’80s are considered some of the biggest influences on reggae’s dancehall scene. He also released several UK charting roots and lovers rock style records throughout the ’80s. Meanwhile, Minott operated one of Jamaica’s most popular sound systems which was set up in public parks and afforded countless young reggae artists their first opportunities to perform in front of an audience. He also produced records by the likes of Daddy Freddy, Horace Andy and Barrington Levy. Others with which he collaborated were Sly & Robbie and Mikey Dread, to name a couple. Sugar Minott was 54 when he died in a Kingston hospital. Cause of death was likely due to a heart conditioned he suffered from.
Clement “Coxsone” Dodd
January 26, 1932 – May 5, 2004
Coxsone Dodd was the pioneering Jamaican DJ and producer that many credit for early development of reggae and ska. Dodd’s career in music began at an early age when he would spin records at this parents’ store. He grew that into a popular sound system business, employing the likes of Lee “Scratch” Perry an U-Roy to run the sound systems. Having spent some time in the United States, Dodd featured early American R&B records, first introducing many Jamaicans to the music. Realizing that he couldn’t keep up with the local demand for new music with imports from the States, Dodd decided to start his own record label and shortly thereafter, open his Studio One recording studio. Over the next two decades, Dodd would produce and release some of reggae’s greatest songs and albums from such artists as Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Sugar Minott, Ras Michael and Horace Andy. To many, he was to reggae what Berry Gordy was to R&B, and his “studio one sound” would become the blueprint for ska and rocksteady. Dodd died of a heart attack at the age of 74.