Died On This Date (October 19, 2014) John Holt / Reggae Great

Winston “John” Holt
July 11, 1947 – October 19, 2014

john-holtJohn Holt was a respected reggae singer and songwriter who began his career by performing at talent shows in an around Kingston as far back as 12 years old.  After winning upwards of two dozen of these contests, Holt recorded his fist single, “Forever I’ll Stay,” for the great Leslie Kong.  The year was 1963, and two years later, he joined a band that would eventually become the Paragons, one of reggae’s biggest acts during the golden age of mid ’60s rocksteady.  During that period, Holt wrote one of the band’s best known hits, “The Tide Is High,” which became a worldwide smash for Blondie in 1980.  After the Paragons disbanded in 1970, Holt went on to have a successful solo career becoming one of Jamaica’s biggest stars of the ’70s.  His hits included “Stick By Me,” “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” and “Touch Me In The Morning.”  Holt released more than 40 albums and toured regularly throughout his career.  In 2004, he was recognized with the Order Of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his contribution to the island’s music.  In June of 2014, Holt was diagnosed with colon cancer and fell ill in August.  He was 67 when he passed away on October 19, 2014.

 

Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the assist.

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Died On This Date (May 3, 2013) Cedric Brooks / Jamaican Saxophonist

Cedric Brooks
1943 – May 3, 2013

cedric-brooksCedric Brooks was a much respected and oft-recorded Jamaican saxophonist.  Barely in his teens when he first took up the clarinet, Brooks ultimately moved over to the flute and saxophone.  He played in a few local bands before getting his first taste of success as Im & David with trumpeter David Madden.  During then late ‘6os, he and Madden recorded several singles for the great producer, Coxsone Dodd.  Over the next five decades, Brooks made numerous albums, either under his own name or with the Mystic Revolution of Rastafari, the Light of Saba, and the Skatalites.  He joined the Skatalites in 2000 and played on at least four of their albums.  Brooks also did plenty of session work throughout his career.  Cedric Brooks died following a cardiac arrest on May 3, 2013.  He was 70.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

What You Should Own

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Click to find at amazon.com



Died On This Date (October 3, 2012) Danny Sims / Music Executive; Managed Bob Marley

Danny Sims
DOB Unknown – October 3, 2012

Danny Sims was a successful American music executive who is perhaps best remembered for being instrumental in the success of Bob Marley. Born in Mississippi, Sims eventually settled in New York City, where in 1965, he and business partner, Johnny Nash launched JAD Records.  During that period, Sims traveled back and forth to Jamaica with several American soul singers to record.  One of them was Nash who had a huge hit with “I Can See Clearly Now” in 1972.  Nash was reportedly the first American to record in Jamaica.  In 1967, Sims signed Bob Marley and the Wailers (the Wailers at the time being, Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh) to their first recording contract.  Sims has been acknowledged for refining Marley and his band mates for the world stage and studio in those early years. Sims recorded hundreds of early tracks with the Wailers , many of which have still yet to be released. In 1972, Sims sold Marley’s contract to Chris Blackwell, and in doing so, unknowingly launched the modern age of reggae music.  Blackwell, of course, helped turn Marley into a superstar by teaching him to think beyond reggae and present himself as a rock star.  Meanwhile, Sims went on to find success with JAD Records (thanks in part to future Marley “rarity” collections)  as well as with his Cayman Publishing company. Sims joined forces with Marley again as his manager, but the singer died of cancer shortly thereafter. Danny Sims as 72 when he died of colon cancer on October 3, 2012.



Died On This Date (July 29, 2013) Sluggy Ranks / Dancehall Reggae Singer

Sluggy Ranks (Born Andrew Gregory)
1968 – July 29, 2012

Born in East Kingston, Jamaica in 1968,  Sluggy Ranks moved to New York City in 1981 to pursue his music career.  By the mid ’80s, Ranks was recording for Jah Life Records out of Brooklyn.  He eventually became one of the city’s most prominent dancehall singers. Ranks built a strong following thanks to his socially conscious lyrics and strong vocal styling.  Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, he could be found singing for such premier New York City area sound systems as  King Custom Sound and Mini Mart Hi Power while packing in crowds at the popular Biltmore Ballroom and Reggae Lounge.  Throughout his career, he released several scene defining singles including “95% Black 5% White” and “Ghetto Youth Bust.”  On July 29, 2012, Sluggy Ranks died of injuries he sustained in a car accident while in Kingston.  He was 44.

Died On This Date (August 22, 2012) Matthew McAnuff / Young Reggae Singer

Matthew McAnuff
1986 – August 22, 2012

Matthew McAnuff was an up-and-coming Jamaican reggae singer and son of celebrated reggae veteran, Winston McAnuff (also known as Electric Dread).  The 25-year-old McAnuff was beginning to make a name for himself throughout the island’s roots reggae clubs and beyond.  His most recent single, “Be Careful,” which was produced by Earl “Chinna” Smith, had found an audience in France.  He was soon to release its follow-up, “If You Want War.”  According to various reports, McAnuff got into an altercation near his home in Montego Bay, Jamaica which resulted in his being stabbed.  He reportedly died from his injuries before help could arrive.