There are many myths and legends surrounding the passing of many famous reggae performers. One must view this obituary with a critical eye. Only JAH knows the accuracy of these stories. It seems that far too many reggae artists have met an untimely demise under mysterious circumstances.
| Gregory Isaacs (1951-2010) | The Cool Ruler passed away. |
| Sugar Minott (1956-2010) | No other information is currently available. |
| Mikey Dread (1954-2008) | He succumbed to a brain tumour at his family home in Connecticut, USA at the age of 54. |
| Athena | Athena was a powerful female singer who passed in the early 80's. She had a lot of potential to rise to the top. No other information is currently available. |
| Augustus Pablo (1954-1999) | After suffering for many years from a debilitating muscle disease he slipped into a coma for several days before he passed. He was 46. |
| Bim Sherman (1952-2000) | Passed on November 17th 2000, from apparent cancer. |
| Binghi Bunny [Eric Lamont] (December 31, 1993) |
No other information is currently available. |
| Delroy Wilson (1948-1995) | Wilson was a seasoned vocalist wth many hits in the 60's and 70's. He passed from apparent sclerosis of the liver. |
| Dennis Brown (Feburary, 1957-July 1, 1999) |
The great singer Dennis Brown passed July 1st 1999 in Kingston, from apparent respiratory failure. |
| Dirtsman [Patrick Thompson] (1993-1966) |
Dirtsman was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1966. His life ended violently when four gunmen shot him outside his home on December 21st 1993. |
| Don Drummond(1943-1969) | Drummond was a founder member of the Skatalites and an excellent trombone player. |
| Duke Reid [Arthur Reid] (1915-1974) |
He was born in Jamaica in 1915, became a very important producer in 1962 and passed 1974. |
| Early B | No other information is currently available. |
| Garnet Silk [Garnet Smith] | 16 Dec 1996 – tragic explosion, Passed trying to save his mother from a house fire,the following is a quote from his wife Novlyn 'Lovey' Smith, courtesy of [Candace Magazine] reggaefusion.com "I don't know what took place on that night, all the survivors were sleeping and woke up only with the explosion – so there's no-one to tell us exactly what happened on that night, but I know one day the truth must reveal. My personal belief is that someone killed Garnet. I have no ideal about this gun theory where Garnet was supposed to have fired a gun which hit the gas cylinder causing the explosion. It doesn't sound like Garnet to fire a gun in a one bedroom apartment – he's too intelligent for that." |
| General Echo | (1980) Echo was shot dead by police in Kingston in 1980. |
| Gregory Peck | Gregory was an obscure but great toaster in the 80's and early 90's with a classic style. No other information is currently available. |
| I-Roy [Roy Samuel Reid] (June 28, 1942-Nov 27, 1999) |
I-Roy was influenced by the great pioneer of toasting U-Roy. He was a classic toaster even throughout the 80's. I-Roy died of apparent heart failure at age 55. |
| Jack Ruby [Laurence Lindo] | (1989) Ruby was a producer and sound system manager. He passed from an apparent heart attack. |
| Jackie Mittoo [Donat Roy Mittoo] (March 3, 1948 – December 16, 1990) |
Jackie was a talented musician and a founding member of the Skatalites. |
| Jacob Miller (1955-1980) |
On March 23rd 1980 Jacob miller passed following an apparent automobile accident. |
| Joe Higgs (June 3, 1940-December 18, 1999) |
Higgs was an influential artist who mentored young Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. He fell into obscurity in the 80's, he was living in California for the last 12 years of his life. |
| King Stitch | He was a popular deejay from the 70's. No other information is currently available. |
| King Tubby [Osbourne Ruddock] (January 28, 1941- February 6, 1989) |
Tubby, a influential engineer and dub master was murdered and robbed outside his home in 1989. |
| Lee Van Cliff | Lepke was an obscure but good deejay from the 80's. No other information is currently available. |
| Leslie Kong [producer] (1933-1971) |
Kong was an early producer who produced hits for Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley among many others. He passed at the age of 38. |
| Lui Lepke | Lepke was a popular deejay from the 70's. No other information is currently available. |
| Nicodemus | (1996) He passed from apparent complications with diabetes. |
| Nitty Gritty | (1991) In 1991 he was shot in Brooklyn, New York in front of Super Power's record shop. |
| Pan Head | (1993) Shot in Spanish Town in 1993 |
| Peter Tosh | (1987) Tosh was assassinated at his home in Kingston on September 11th 1987, shortly after the release of his album No Nuclear War. Only one of the 3 gunmen responsible was arrested |
| Prince Far I | (1983) Prince Far I was shot dead in Jamaica, September 15, 1983, by an unknown gunman. |
| Prince Lincoln Thompson | (1999) Passed in 1999, apparent cancer |
| Puma Jones [Sandra Jones] | (1990) Puma Jones was the female singer in the talented group Black Uhuru, she was an American. She passed from apparent cancer on January 28, 1990. |
| Bob Marley [Robert Nesta Marley] | (1945-1981) There are many myths and legends surrounding the death of Bob Marley the reggae Icon Bob Marley was said to have cancer in his toe that was spreading rapidly, the myth has it that he refused conventional treatment |
| Tenor Saw [Clive Bright] | (1966-1988) Not much is publicly known about the passing of Tenor Saw. In August 1988 he was killed by a speeding car in Houston, Texas. |