THE Gregory Isaacs Foundation will celebrate the late singer's birthday on July 15 with a free event dubbed, 'A Hat Affair', at Studio 38 in St Andrew.

Isaacs' widow, June, told Splash that the show's title was inspired by one of her husband's distinctive features.

"Gregory's hat was and still is his trademark and so we ask patrons to wear a hat in remembrance of him," she said.

June Isaacs made another request of fans.

"We are asking patrons to donate food stuff, clothing, school supplies, toys — just about anything for the children at Walkers Place of Safety, St Barnabas and Black Harmony Basic schools," she said.

Many in the line-up of performers were friends of Isaacs, who died from cancer at age 59 in October 2010.

They include U Roy, Big Youth, the Mighty Diamonds, George Nooks, Stranger Cole, Cocoa Tea, John Holt, Tinga Stewart, Bongo Herman, Edi Fitzroy and Tristan Palma.

Hezron, Alaine and Tarrus Riley are also expcted to appear.

Gregory Isaacs is one of the biggest hitmakers in reggae history. His career started in the late 1960s, but it was not until the early 1970s that he had his first sizable hits in All I Have is Love and Love Overdue.

His laid-back style on songs like Tune In, Soon Forward and Night Nurse earned him the moniker, the Cool Ruler.