Gregory Isaacs, the reggae superstar has died. The singer passed away at his home in London after battling lung cancer. He was 59.
Nicknamed "The Cool ruler", Isaacs was born in Jamaica in 1951. After recording with Winston Sinclair and as part of The Concords, Isaacs went solo in 1970. Teaming up with singer Errol Dunkley, he started African Museum record label and shop and released the song My Only Lover - a huge reggae hit and said to be the first record in the "Lover's Rock" style. A string of hits followed, making the singer one of the world's biggest reggae artists.
In 1978, Isaacs signed to Virgin Records subsidary Front Line Records, releasing two masterful albums: Cool Ruler and Soon Forward. After a spell at Charisma Records, the singer moved to Island, where he had his biggest hit, the Lover's Rock anthem Night Nurse. Simply Red reached number 13 in the UK charts with their 1997 cover.
Leaving Island Records in 1984, Isaacs worked with a myriad of producers including Prince Jammy, Red Man, Bobby Digital, Tad Dawkins, and Steely & Clevie and continued to have reggae hits, mostly on his own African Museum label.
The much-loved singer leaves a wife, Linda, and family.
If you wish to pay tribute to Gregory, please leave a comment.
Nicknamed "The Cool ruler", Isaacs was born in Jamaica in 1951. After recording with Winston Sinclair and as part of The Concords, Isaacs went solo in 1970. Teaming up with singer Errol Dunkley, he started African Museum record label and shop and released the song My Only Lover - a huge reggae hit and said to be the first record in the "Lover's Rock" style. A string of hits followed, making the singer one of the world's biggest reggae artists.
In 1978, Isaacs signed to Virgin Records subsidary Front Line Records, releasing two masterful albums: Cool Ruler and Soon Forward. After a spell at Charisma Records, the singer moved to Island, where he had his biggest hit, the Lover's Rock anthem Night Nurse. Simply Red reached number 13 in the UK charts with their 1997 cover.
Leaving Island Records in 1984, Isaacs worked with a myriad of producers including Prince Jammy, Red Man, Bobby Digital, Tad Dawkins, and Steely & Clevie and continued to have reggae hits, mostly on his own African Museum label.
The much-loved singer leaves a wife, Linda, and family.
If you wish to pay tribute to Gregory, please leave a comment.
