On November 24, 2025, James Chambers (aka Jimmy Cliff) died aged 81. He was singer, musician (guitar, piano, keyboards, congas) and actor, one of the most important figures in worldwide promotion of the Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae music. He was the only living reggae musician to hold the “Order of Merit”, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. In 2010, Jimmy Cliff was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: reggae music
Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert
On September 11, 2020, Frederick Nathaniel “Toots” Hibbert, died aged 77. He was musician (guitar, Hammond organ), singer and songwriter, regarded as reggae pioneer, with six decades long career. He had major influence on popularizing reggae music with songs like “Monkey Man”, “Funky Kingston” and “Pressure Drop”. Even the genre’s name is credited as genesis from his 1968’s song “Do the Reggay”. With his band Toots and the Maytals, he won “Grammy Award” in 2006, for his album “True Love”.
Johnny Nash
On October 6, 2020, John Lester Nash Jr. aka Johnny Nash died aged 80. He was a singer, songwriter, one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston. He was best known for his 1972 song, the million-selling anthem “I Can See Clearly Now”. Nash recorded 17 albums.
musicalphabet 