Reggae Music in History

Events in Music

  • 1980-03-27 "Reggae" opens at Biltmore Theater NYC for 21 performances
  • 1980-04-13 Musical "Reggae", starring Philip Michael Thomas, closes at Biltmore Theater, NYC, after 21 performances

Music History

1980-09-21 Reggae singer Bob Marley collapses while jogging in New York City's Central Park; medical exam finds his cancer had spread to his brain, lungs, and liver

  • 1980-09-23 Reggae legend Bob Marley's final concert at Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • 1981-05-21 Reggae musician Bob Marley receives a Jamaican state funeral
  • 1982-12-29 Jamaican Post issues commemorative postage stamp featuring reggae singer Bob Marley
  • 1990-08-01 British pop-reggae band UB40 deported from Seychelles after being arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession

Shaggy Releases Bombastic

1995-07-11 Shaggy releases his third studio album "Bombastic" (Grammy Award Best Reggae Album)



Birthdays in Music

  • 1934-06-18 Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson, Jamaican ska and reggae session keyboard player, and bandleader ("The Liquidator"), born in Jones Town, Jamaica (d. 2015)
  • 1936-03-20 Lee "Scratch" Perry [Rainford Hugh Perry], Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter and producer (The Upsetters), born in Kendal, Jamaica (d. 2021)
  • 1938-05-28 Prince Buster [Cecil Bustamente Campbell], Jamaican-born reggae musician and producer (Madness), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2016)
  • 1940-08-19 Johnny Nash, American pop-reggae-soul singer-songwriter and record producer ("I Can See Clearly Now"), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2020)
  • 1942-07-16 Desmond Dekker [Dacres], Jamaican reggae pioneer (The Aces - "007 (Shanty Town)"; "Israelites"), born in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica (d. 2006)
  • 1943-10-09 Tony Tribe [Anthony Mossop], Jamaican-British reggae singer ("Red, Red Wine"), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1943-12-14 Dandy Livingstone (Robert Livingstone Thompson), Jamaican-British reggae musician and record producer, ("Suzanne Beware of the Devil"; "Rudy, A Message to You"), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1944-07-30 Jimmy Cliff [Chambers], Jamaican reggae singer ("The Harder They Come"), born in St James, Colony of Jamaica
  • 1944-10-19 Peter Tosh [Winston Hubert McIntosh], Jamaican reggae musician (The Wailers -"Get Up Stand Up"; Mystic Man, Legalize It), born in Westmoreland, Jamaica (d. 1987)
  • 1944-10-28 Bob Andy [Keith Anderson], Jamaican reggae songwriter, and vocalist ("Feel the Feeling"; "Fire Burning"), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2020)
  • 1944-11-22 Max Romeo [Smith], Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter, born in St. D'Acre, St. Ann, Jamaica

Bob Marley (1945-1981)

1945-02-06 Jamaican reggae musician ("Exodus"; "One Love"; "No Woman No Cry"; "Three Little Birds"), born in Nine Mile, Saint Ann, Jamaica

  • 1945-03-01 Burning Spear [Winston Rodney], Jamaican reggae singer, born in Saint Ann's Bay, Jamaica
  • 1945-05-02 Judge Dread [Alexander Hughes] English reggae musician, born in Kent, England (d. 1998)
  • 1946-11-22 Aston Barrett, Jamaican reggae bassist (Bob Marley & the Wailers - "I Shot the Sheriff"; Burning Spear), sound engineer, and producer, born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2024) [1]
  • 1948-03-05 (Edmond) "Eddy" Grant, Guyanese–British reggae singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist ("Electric Avenue"), born in Plaisance, British Guiana
  • 1948-10-05 Delroy Wilson, Jamaican ska and reggae singer ("Cool Operator"), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 1995)
  • 1949-06-18 "Prince" Lincoln Thompson, Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter ("Humanity"; "Daughters Of Zion"), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 1999)
  • 1949-06-22 Junior Marvin [Donald Hanson Marvin Kerr Richards Jr.] Jamaican reggae and session guitarist (The Wailers), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1950-12-17 Carlton "Carly" Barrett, Jamaican reggae drummer (The Upsetters; Bob Marley & Wailers), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 1987)
  • 1951-09-23 Steven Springer, American reggae, calypso, and rock guitarist and songwriter (Sir Lancelot Pinard), born in Port of Spain, Trinidad (d. 2012)
  • 1951-12-29 Georges Thurston, Canadian R&B and reggae musician and singer (Boule Noire), born in Bedford, Quebec (d. 2007)
  • 1952-05-10 Sly Dunbar, Jamaican reggae drummer (Sly & Robbie), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1953-01-01 Alpha Blondy [Seydou Koné], Ivorian reggae singer-songwriter ("Jerusalem"; "Journalistes en danger"), born in Dimbokro, N'Zi Region, Ivory Coast
  • 1953-01-07 Earl Lindo, Jamaican reggae keyboardist (Bob Marley & the Wailers), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2017)
  • 1953-09-27 Robbie Shakespeare, Jamaican reggae bassist (Sly & Robbie - "DJ Riot"), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2021)
  • 1953-10-05 Sandra "Puma" Jones, American reggae singer (Black Uhuru, 1979-86), born in Columbia, South Carolina (d. 1990)
  • 1954-06-04 Mikey Dread [Michael Campbell], Jamaican reggae singer, producer ("Rocker's Delight"), and broadcaster (BBC), born in Port Antonio, Jamaica (d. 2008)
  • 1954-12-25 Robin Campbell, British reggae vocalist andguitarist (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1955-04-01 Tony Tuff (Winston Anthony Morris), Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter (The African Brothers), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1956-03-20 Alphonso Martin, British reggae percussionist and vocalist (Steel Pulse, 1977-91 - "Prodigal Son"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1956-05-25 (Lincoln) "Sugar" Minott, Jamaican reggae singer (The African Brothers), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2010)
  • 1957-02-01 Dennis Brown, Jamaican reggae singer ("Money In My Pocket"), born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 1999)
  • 1957-06-24 Astro [Terence Wilson], British reggae-rock vocalist (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"), born in Birmingham, England (d. 2021)
  • 1957-07-11 Michael Rose, Jamaican Grammy award-winning reggae singer (Black Uhuru, 1977-84 - Anthem), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1957-08-26 "Dr." Alban [Nwaba], Nigerian-Swedish hip-hop reggae singer, born in Oguta, Imo, Federation of Nigeria
  • 1957-10-09 Ini Kamoze [Cecil Campbell], Jamaican reggae singer ("Here Comes the Hotstepper"), born in Saint Mary's, Jamaica
  • 1957-11-20 Jimmy Brown, British rock-reggae drummer (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1958-01-26 Norman Hassan, British reggae percussionist, and trombone player (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"; "I Got You Babe"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1959-01-23 Earl Falconer, British reggae bassist (UB40 - "Red, Red Wine"), born in Meriden, England
  • 1959-02-15 Alistar "Ali" Campbell, British reggae vocalist and guitarist (UB40, 1978-2008 - "Red Red Wine"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1962-08-03 Lucky Dube, South African reggae musician ("Remember Me"; "It's Not Easy"), born in Ermelo, Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) (d. 2007)
  • 1963-02-10 Smiley Culture [David Victor Emmanuel], British reggae singer ("Police Officer"; "Cockney Translation"), born in Stockwell, South London (d. 2011)
  • 1964-04-30 Barrington Levy, Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer ("Englishman"), born in Clarendon, Jamaica
  • 1965-10-19 Frankie Paul [Paul Blake], Jamaican reggae musician, born in Kingston, Jamaica (d. 2017)
  • 1965-12-05 Wayne Smith, Jamaican reggae musician (Under Mi Sleng Teng), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1966-01-17 Shabba Ranks [Rexton Gordon], Jamaican dancehall musician and reggae deejay (X-tra Naked), born in St. Ann, Jamaica
  • 1966-04-02 Garnett Silk [Garnet Smith], Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter (Hey Mama Africa; Greenline), born in Manchester, Jamaica (d. 1994)
  • 1967-03-02 Dennis Seaton, British reggae-rock singer (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1967-05-23 Freddie "Junior" Waite, British reggae-rock drummer (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1968-05-16 Patrick Waite, British reggae-rock bassist (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), born in Birmingham, England (d. 1993)
  • 1968-10-17 (David) "Ziggy" Marley, Jamaican Grammy Award-winning reggae performer (The Melody Makers), philanthropist, and son of Bob Marley, born in Kingston, Jamaica

Shaggy (55 years old)

1968-10-22 Jamaican-American Grammy Award-winning reggae rapper and songwriter ("It Wasn't Me", "Boombastic",), born in Kingston, Jamaica

  • 1969-02-21 Corey Harris, American blues and reggae guitarist (The Blues miniseries; From Mississippi to Mali), born in Denver, Colorado
  • 1969-07-06 Michael Grant, British reggae-rock keyboardist and singer (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1969-10-28 Ben Harper, American blues and reggae musician and singer-songwriter ("No Mercy In This Land"), born in Pomona, California
  • 1971-07-09 Kelvin Grant, British reggae-rock guitarist (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), born in Birmingham, England
  • 1972-02-02 Tego Calderón, Puerto Rican reggaeton singer and rapper ("Quitarte To'"), born in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • 1972-04-20 Stephen Marley, Jamaican-American reggae musician, son of Bob Marley, born in Wilmington, Delaware
  • 1972-05-27 Ivete Sangalo, Brazilian pop-reggae-Axé singer, musician, and songwriter, born in Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil
  • 1973-01-09 Sean Paul, Jamaican dancehall singer, born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1974-03-25 Finley Quaye, Scottish reggae singer and musician, born in Edinburgh, Scotland
  • 1974-10-31 Natasja Saad, Danish hip hop and reggae artist, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 2007)
  • 1976-02-26 Chad Urmston, American rock-ska-reggae singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (Dispatch; State Radio), born in Sherborn, Massachusetts

Daddy Yankee (47 years old)

1977-02-03 Puerto Rican reggaeton singer and rapper ("Despacito"; "Gasolina"), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • 1977-04-17 Sizzla Kalonji [Miguel Orlando Collins], Jamaican reggae musician, born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1979-06-30 Matisyahu [Matthew Miller], Hasidic Jewish Reggae singer and rapper ("One Day"), born in West Chester, Pennsylvania
  • 1980-12-27 Cas Haley, American roots, rock, and reggae singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, born in Paris, Texas
  • 1981-08-21 Collie Buddz [Colin Patrick Harper], American reggae and dancehall artist ("Come Around"), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
  • 1982-09-03 Kaori Natori, Japanese J-pop, hip-hop, and reggae singer (Spontania), and model, born in Tokyo, Japan
  • 1986-02-28 Alex Tanas, Canadian pop-reggae drummer (Magic! -"Rude"), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • 1986-06-04 Skip Marley (Minto), Jamaican reggae singer, born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • 1990-02-03 Sean Kingston, American reggae rapper ("Beautiful Girls"), born in Miami, Florida

Weddings in Music

Bob Marley

1966-02-10 Reggae Musician Bob Marley (21) marries fellow musician Rita Anderson (19)

  • 2010-02-26 American reggae-rock singer Cisco Adler (32) weds American fashion model Barbara Stoyanoff (30) at Wayfarers Chapel in Palos Verdes, California

Deaths in Music

Bob Marley (1945-1981)

1981-05-11 Jamaican reggae musician ("Exodus"; "One Love"; "No Woman No Cry"; "Three Little Birds"), dies of brain and lung cancer at 36

  • 1983-09-15 Prince Far I [Michael Williams], Jamaican reggae deejay, producer and Rastafarian, killed during a robberya t his home at 38-ish
  • 1987-04-17 Carlton "Carly" Barrett, Jamaican reggae drummer (The Upsetters; Bob Marley & Wailers), murdered at 36
  • 1987-09-11 Peter Tosh [Winston Hubert McIntosh], Jamaican reggae musician (The Wailers -"Get Up Stand Up"; "Mystic Man"; "Legalize It"), shot dead at his home in Jamaica at 42
  • 1990-01-28 Sandra "Puma" Jones, American reggae singer (Black Uhuru, 1979-86), dies of breast cancer at 36
  • 1993-02-18 Patrick Waite, British reggae-rock bassist (Musical Youth - "Pass the Dutchie"), dies of heart defect at 24
  • 1994-12-09 Garnett Silk [Garnet Smith], Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter (Hey Mama Africa; Greenline), dies in a house fire while trying to save his mother at 28
  • 1995-03-06 Delroy Wilson, Jamaican ska and reggae singer ("Cool Operator"), dies from cirrhosis of the liver at 46
  • 1998-03-12 Judge Dread [Alexander Hughes] English reggae musician, dies from a heart attack at 52
  • 1999-07-01 Dennis Brown, Jamaican reggae singer ("Money In My Pocket"), dies of a collapsed lung, after a heart attack, at 42
  • 2000-10-19 Hortense Ellis, Jamaican reggae singer ("Right On the Tip of My Tongue"), dies from a stomach infection at 59
  • 2006-05-25 Desmond Dekker [Dacres], Jamaican reggae pioneer (The Aces - "007 (Shanty Town)"; "Israelites"), dies of a heart attack at 64
  • 2007-06-18 Georges Thurston, Canadian R&B and reggae musician and singer (Boule Noire), dies of cancer at 55
  • 2007-06-24 Natasja Saad, Danish hip hop and reggae artist, dies in a Jamaican car crash at 32
  • 2007-10-18 Lucky Dube, South African reggae musician, killed by carjackers at 43
  • 2007-12-25 Mighty King Kong, Kenyan reggae musician. (b. 1973)
  • 2008-03-15 Mikey Dread [Michael Campbell], Jamaican reggae singer, producer ("Rocker's Delight"), and broadcaster (BBC), dies of a brain tumor at 53
  • 2010-07-10 (Lincoln) "Sugar" Minott, Jamaican reggae singer (The African Brothers), dies at 54
  • 2010-10-25 Gregory Isaacs, Jamaican reggae musician, dies of lung cancer at 59
  • 2011-03-15 Smiley Culture [David Victor Emmanuel], British reggae singer ("Police Officer"; "Cockney Translation"), dies from a self-inflicted stab wound at 48
  • 2015-12-03 Gladstone "Gladdy" Anderson, Jamaican ska and reggae session keyboard player, and bandleader ("The Liquidator"), dies at 81
  • 2016-09-08 Prince Buster [Cecil Bustamente Campbell], Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer ("Al Capone"; "Madness", "Whine and Grine"), dies at 78
  • 2017-05-18 Frankie Paul [Paul Blake], Jamaican reggae musician, dies of kidney disease at 51
  • 2020-03-27 Bob Andy [Keith Anderson], Jamaican reggae songwriter, and vocalist ("Feel the Feeling"; "Fire Burning"), dies of cancer at 75
  • 2020-10-06 Johnny Nash, American pop-reggae-soul singer-songwriter and record producer (I Can See Clearly Now), dies at 80 [1]
  • 2021-08-29 Lee "Scratch" Perry, [Rainford Hugh Perry] Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter and producer (The Upset;ers), dies at 85
  • 2021-11-06 Astro [Terence Wilson], British reggae-rock vocalist (UB40 - "Red Red Wine"), dies at 64
  • 2021-12-08 Robbie Shakespeare, Jamaican reggae bassist (Sly & Robbie - "DJ Riot"), dies of kidney failure at 68
  • 2024-02-03 Aston Barrett, Jamaican reggae bassist (Bob Marley & the Wailers - "I Shot the Sheriff"; Burning Spear), sound engineer, and producer, dies of heart failure after a series of strokes at 77 [1]