Died On This Date (September 28, 2011) Leonard Dillon / Pioneering Reggae Singer For The Ethiopians
themusicsover Leonard Dillon
December 9, 1942 – September 28, 2011
Leonard Dillon was known to reggae fans the world over as the founding lead singer of pioneering Jamaican ska and rocksteady group, the Ethiopians. Formed during the mid ’60s, the Ethiopians cut their first records for legendary Jamaican producer, Coxsone Dodd, who had already recorded a handful of tracks by Dillon but under the name, Jack Sparrow. Over the next several years, Dillon and the Ethiopians released a collection of songs that went on to influence countless ska and reggae acts to come. That list includes “Train To Skaville,” “Everything Crash,” and “The Whip.” Dillon has also been credited for introducing more socially conscious lyrics to reggae. As reported in the Jamaica Observer, Leonard Dillon was 69 when he passed away on September 28, 2011. He had been suffering from lung and prostate cancer.
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