Died On This Date (May 18, 1999) Augustus Pablo / Reggae Great

Augustus Pablo (Born Horace Swaby)
June 21, 1953 – May 18, 1999

Augustus Pablo was a popular reggae musician and producer who was unique in that his instrument of choice was the melodica, or “blow-organ,” which was up until the late ’60s, primarily used to teach music to school children.  Pablo began making records in 1971, with one of his earliest, “East Of The River Nile,” being a minor hit.    By the end of the decade, he released numerous hits and collaborated with the likes of Bob Marley, Horace Andy, King Tubby, and Hugh Mundell.   Throughout the last two decades of his life, Pablo recorded less, but produced more hits by the likes of Junior Delgado.  He also continued to be a popular concert draw around the world.  Augustus Pablo was 44 years old when he passed away on May 18, 1999.  He died as the result of a collapsed lung brought on by a nerve disorder he had suffered from for quite some time.

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Died On This Date (May 11, 1981) Bob Marley / Reggae Icon

Bob Marley
February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981

Bob Marley was a Jamaican musician and singer-songwriter who is widely recognized for bringing reggae music to the rest of the world.  He is arguable the most beloved performer of reggae.  His greatest hits album, Legend, is the biggest selling reggae album of all times, selling a staggering 20 million copies.  in 1963, producer Coxsone Dodd discovered Marley in a group that also included Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.  They would soon become the Wailers.  Over the next several years, Marley would release a string of albums that would help define a sound and movement.  Those classic albums included Catch A Fire, Burnin’, Rastaman Vibration, and of course, Exudus.  In July of 1977, Marley was diagnosed with a form of malenoma in his big toe.  Citing his Rastafarian belief that the body most remain whole, Marley refused to receive any form of surgical treatment.  Instead, he sought more controversial and holistic forms of treatment, but the cancer had already progressed too far.  Bob Marley passed away in a Miami hospital at the age of 36.

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Died On This Date (May 6, 1969) Don Drummond / The Skatalites

Don Drummond
1943 – May 6, 1969

don-drummondAs a respected Jamaican trombonist, Don Drummond was one of the original foundations on which ska was built.  Drummond started his career in the mid ’50s with Eric Dean’s All Stars, and in 1964, he helped form the legendary Skatalites.   Besides being one of the world’s best trombone players, Drummond was an extremely prolific songwriter, penning over 300 songs over his very short career.   On January 1, 1965, Drummond was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, exotic dancer Anita “Margarita” Mahfood, who he stabbed to death in his apartment.  At his trial, he was found to be legally insane and was committed to Bellevue Hospital where he died of an apparent suicide on May 6, 1969.   Family and friends however, insist Drummond died at the hands of either a Jamaican government targeting the Kingston music scene, or the mob as revenge for the death of Mahfood.

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Died On This Date (May 5, 2004) Coxsone Dodd / Legendary Reggae Producer

Clement “Coxsone” Dodd
January 26, 1932 – May 5, 2004

coxsoneCoxsone 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.

Died On This Date (April 17, 1987) Carlton Barrett / Bob Marley & The Wailers

Carlton “Carly” Barrett
December 17, 1950 – April 17, 1987

carlton-barrettCarlton Barrett was a reggae drummer and songwriter as well as brother of Aston “Family Man” Barrett.  The Barrett brothers started out together, forming a session band first called Soul Mates, then Rhythm Force and finally the Hippy Boys that featured Max Romeo on vocals.  By the early ’70s, the Hippy Boys were officially the house band for the great Lee “Scratch” Perry who renamed them the Upsetters.  Barrett played behind Perry on some of reggae’s greatest instrumentals, such as  “Clint Eastwood” and “Cold Sweat.”  It was around this time that Barrett brothers met Bob Marley who had formed a trio with Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh.  Carlton and Aston were hired to play on several early tracks and soon became permanent members of the Wailers.  Carlton stayed in the Wailers until Marley’s death in 1981.   Carlton Barrett was shot to death outside his home on April 17, 1987.  His wife, her then lover, and another man were implicated in the murder.   She ended up serving just one year for conspiracy.