Died On This Date (October 3, 2012) Danny Sims / Music Executive; Managed Bob Marley
themusicsover 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.
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.
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.
Ranking Trevor was a Jamaican singer who, during the 1970s, helped popularize the usage of “toasting” which was an early form of rap that eventually gave birth to hip-hop. Ranking Trevor launched his career as a deejay while in his early teens, and by the time he turned 15, he had already cut his first record. Most of Ranking Trevor’s recordings were made at the legendary Channel One studio. His most famous were “Caveman Skank” and “Three Piece Chicken and Chips,” both of which charted in England. Because of his popularity in the UK, he lived there through most of the ’70s and ’80s, but ultimately settled back in Jamaica during the ’90s. On August 7, 2012, Ranking Trevor died from injuries he sustained when he was thrown from his motorcycle during an apparent accident with an automobile. The date of Ranking Trevor’s birth vary from source to source, but most put his age at 60 at the time of his death.
Lloyd Brevett is best remembered as the longtime double bassist for the highly influential Jamaican ska band, the Skatalites. Helping to form the group in 1964, Brevett was there for the early development of ska, a form of Caribbean music that included elements of calypso, mento, American jazz, and R&B that was the foundation of reggae. The Skatalites’ biggest hit was “Guns Of Navarone.” The band broke in 1965 but reformed during the mid-’80s, instantly reclaiming their fandom. Brevett left the group in 2004. Lloyd Brevett suffered a major stroke in March of 2012 and died from complications on May 3, 2012. He was 80.
