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News
Tributes pour in for Gregory Isaacs
BY KARYL WALKER Online editor walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Monday, October 25, 2010
AS news of the passing of veteran Reggae crooner Gregory Isaacs begins to soak in tributes are flowing in his honour. Isaacs passed away in London this morning from the effects of lung cancer. He had been ailing for some time.
Minister of Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange hailed Isaacs as one of the great pioneers of Jamaican popular music.
"His career was not only about singing: he was a singer, a songwriter, music producer, promoter and recording executive. Few Jamaican artistes can match this versatility, and even fewer were able to succeed in so many areas of entertainment.
I mourn his loss as the Minister responsible for culture, as a good friend of Gregory and as a fan of good Jamaican music, and hope that his struggle and eventual success will be a model for young Jamaicans in the entertainment sector to emulate,” Grange said.
Musicologist and columnist Garth White was also saddened at the news of Isaacs' death.
"Quite possibly the most arresting feature of Gregory and his compadre Dennis Brown, is how they managed to maintain their appeal through the various changes that our popular music passed through. Thir audience included young and old, both the afficionados from the classic roots reggae era to dancehall," White said.
Bertram 'Ras Mandito' Johnson, General Secretary of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artiste's and Associates, (JAVAA), said Isaacs would be inducted into the Jamaica Music Hall of Fame.
"Upon the passing of the Cool Ruler of Reggae Gregory Isaacs, JAVAA extends condolences to his family, friends and fans all over the world. Gregory Isaacs has charted an indelible chapter in the annals of the development of Jamaica's music with his own unique style and with timeless hits," Johnson told the Observer.
Gregory Isaacs was born on July 15, 1951 in Denham Town, West Kingston.
He won several talent shows as a teenager and recorded his first single as part of a duo with singer Winston Sinclair in 1968 before joining the the group The Concords.
In the early 1970's he launched his solo career and formed his African Museum record company with singer Errol Dunkley.
He was arrested in sentence for illegal possession of a firearm in 1982 and had serious problems with cocaine addiction.
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10/26/2010
Last year he was in Anguilla at our noonsplash
He was a great show he has us rocking
I enjoy night nurse
Gregory will be missed
Rest in peace my brother
10/26/2010
It was a great pleasure knowing Gregory over the years. It was in the early 70's that he came to live in the Christian Pen / Gregory Park area and pretty soon became one of us. It was like he had lived there all his life.
We enjoyed long talks , listening to him playing his guitar and singing new songs he had written. He was a very down to earth person and was loved by everyone.
I enjoyed hanging out with him when he did shows in Cali in the early and late eighties.
Great friend! R.I.P.
10/25/2010
RIP Gregory, you could really sing bro. You needed no autotune or drum machine, just talent and great musicians in a good band. The result was the timeless music you have now left behind for all of us to cherish and enjoy.
10/25/2010
i am surprised some of these foolish people live this long ,i thought he was dead already,even though he did do some fine recordings...but when people abuse themselves with dangerous drus death can come at anytime..i remember seeing gregory isaacs strung out on crak ,back in the day in brooklyn,i did not even recognize him until someone else pointed him out..
10/25/2010
My Man is Gone!
Gregory Isaacs, rest in peace!
You was really one man against the world.
I thank you for every song that you recorded. I thank you for what you have done to my life with your mellodies, your lyrics. I thank you for the work you leave to the world.
You were the greatest. My house god.
I've been following you for 25 of my 39 years and there was allways something new to find.
Thank you!
/Christer K, Sweden
10/25/2010
RIP Gregory, i grew up listening to your music, Lonely Soldier, Tune in , Number One, the Willow Tree etc. etc. And like all of us you made mistakes in life, paid your dues and rose up again. I will always treasure your style of Reggae Music which is timeless compared to the garbage that is now regarded as Jamaican Music. I will always regard you and Dennis Brown as the two Plillars of romantic and cultural reggae music that millions around the world enjoy. Walk good my friend.
10/25/2010
Sad, sad, very Sad! R.I.P.
10/25/2010
muffi mi muffin, muffin raga muffin mi muffin.
10/25/2010
It is a very sad day in our lives,The Best Dressed Entainer of my time,the Man with the silky smooth voice,the Man many called the Cool ruler has left us but his music will continu to live with us. My Condolences goes out to his immediate Family,the Music Fraternity and Friends. Mr Cool we'll meet some time in another world R.I.P.my Brother.
10/25/2010
Big Up to his family and JAH BLESS the Cool Ruler in his travel now. My best songs are Tune In and Night Nurse.
10/25/2010
Another legend has pass.......R.I.P. brother. Your music will lives on.......... Red Rose for Gregory.
10/25/2010
Couldn't this article only reflect the joy he brought to the music industry and his fans. "He was arrested in sentence for illegal possession of a firearm in 1982 and had serious problems with cocaine addiction." Why insert this into your article. R.I.P. the real maestro. A true fan is always forgiven of their artist, people we all make mistake and we learn and he did why add that to your editorial.
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