Peter Austin, who recorded a number of hit songs as a member of The Clarendonians, died at his St Andrew home on July 21. He was 78.

His daughter, Georgia, confirmed his passing. Austin formed The Clarendonians in the early 1960s with Ernest Wilson, who was six years younger.

Although they initially recorded for producers Leslie Kong and Duke Reid, the duo’s most fruitful period came with Clement Dodd. Their ska hits included a cover of The Beatles’ You Won’t See Me, Shoo Be Do Be and You Can’t be Happy.

The Clarendonians were from Hayes, Clarendon which was also the hometown of Freddie McGregor who at one stage was a member of the group.

Wilson went solo in the late 1960s and enjoyed a successful career with hit songs like Undying Love and Money Worries. He died in 2021 at age 69.

Austin worked for many years as an aviation supervisor with Shell at the Norman Manley International Airport. He recorded solo songs intermittently such as Night Owl, and reunited with Wilson during the 1990s when there was a ska/rock steady revival in Jamaica.

Georgia Austin said her father had recently performed on shows in California and Mexico.

Peter Austin is survived by six children several grandchildren.