On September 26, 2003, Robert Allen Palmer died aged 54. He was musician (guitar),singer, songwriter and music producer, member of bands Joe Vinegar and The Power Station. He had powerful, distinctive, gritty, soulful voice and sartorial elegance, his music combined soul, jazz, rock, pop, reggae and blues elements. Palmer had successful solo career, received a number of awards, including “ASCAP Pop Music Award” for “Most Performed Songs” (1986 and 1990), two “Grammy Awards” for “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” (1989), “MTV Video Music Award” (1986), “Pollstar Concert Industry Awards” for “Small Hall Tour Of The Year” (1987). As leader, Palmer released 15 albums.
Tag Archives: reggae
Prince Buster
On September 8, 2016, Cecil Bustamente Campbell aka Prince Buster, died aged 78. He was singer-songwriter and music producer, known as the first Jamaican to have a top 20 hit in the UK. His records form the 1960s, influenced the sound of ska and inspired the reggae artists of the late ’70s.
Emmanuel “Rico” Rodriguez
On September 4, 2015, Emmanuel “Rico” Rodriguez died aged 80. He was musician (trombone), one of the first and most distinguished reggae and ska artists. He has formed the group Rico and the Rudies, and has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and producers including Karl Pitterson, Prince Buster, Lloyd “Matador” Daley, Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Bob Marley, Toots & the Maytals, Delroy Washington , Burning Spear, The Specials, Jools Holland, Dennis Bovell, Ian Dury, Chas Jankel, Joan Armatrading, John Martyn, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Steel Pulse and Paul Young. In 2007, he was awarded an “MBE” (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to music. For his contribution to Jamaican music, in 2012 he was awarded the “Silver Musgrave Medal” by the “Institute of Jamaica”.
Desmond Dekker
On May 25, 2006, Desmond Dekker died aged 64. He was singer and songwriter, best known by his song “Israelites” from 1968 (with his backing group “The Aces), which is regarded as one of the earliest reggae hits worldwide.
Bob Marley
On May 11, 1981, Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley died aged 36. He was singer, songwriter, musician (guitar), regarded as the most important artist in the reggae history and achieved status as one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million records.