Died On This Date (March 19, 2011) Aashid Himons / Nashville Reggae Singer
themusicsover Aashid Himons (Born Archie Himons)
1942 – March 19, 2011
Aashid Himons was a beloved reggae and world music performer who was a fixture of the Nashville club scene for many years. Himons’ career stretched as far back as the ’50s when he, under his given name of Archie Himons was performing doo wop and R&B throughout the New York City and Washington DC areas. For a time, he fronted his own Little Archie & the Majestics. He eventually settled in Nashville where he fronted Afrikan Dreamland who was reportedly the first reggae group to be played on MTV during its infancy. It was during that period that he and the group gained much of its popularity thanks in part to heavy play on college radio stations. On March 19, 2011, Aashid Himons passed away following a long illness. He was 68.
David Emmanuel, known professionally as Smiley Culture was a popular reggae singer and DJ who had several UK hits during the ’80s. His two most popular were 1984’s “Cockney Translation” and “Police Officer.” As a DJ for Saxon Studio International sound system, Emmanuel worked with the likes of Maxi Priest and Tippa Irie. In 1986 he appeared alongside David Bowie, Ray Davies and Sade in the Julien Temple film, Absolute Beginners. On March 15, 2011, David Emmanuel, age 48, died during a reported police raid on his home. Early reports indicate he was killed by a self-inflicted stab wound but that a local watchdog group was investigating. In a twist of irony, his 1984 hit, “Police Officer” told the story of a time he was arrested for marijuana possession but was let go when an officer recognized him as a reggae star.
Gregory Isaacs was a Jamaican reggae singer who the New York Times once called, “the most exquisite voice in reggae.” After competing in a slew of talent contests while in his teens, Isaacs began making his first recordings during the late ’60s. In 1973, he released “My Only Lover” which became a huge hit and has been cited as the birth of the lovers rock sub-genre of reggae. He went on to work the biggest reggae producers and musicians, releasing several more hit records. By the end of the decade, Isaacs was one of reggae’s most important figures. During the ’80s, he released Night Nurse – the album and single of the same name are essential to any legitimate reggae collection. Sadly however, Isaacs developed a severe drug addiction that took a toll on his voice and lead to a short term in jail. Upon his release, he continued to make many more albums, leading to 2008’s Brand New Me, which some critics were calling a return to form. Over the course of his 40-year career, he released upwards of 500 albums. On October 25, 2010, Gregory Isaacs died of lung cancer. He was 59.
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 on 
Johnny “Dizzy” Moore is best remembered as a founding member of reggae’s the Skatalites, with whom he played the trumpet. Formed in 1964, the Skatalites were one of ska’s pioneers. Moore died of colon cancer at the age of 69.