Roots singer Tony Tuff, one of the rugged artistes who defined 1980s dancehall music, died on April 20 at Kingston Public Hospital at age 69.

His wife, Wilda Burnett-Morris, said he passed away nine days after being admitted there.

She told the Jamaica Observer that her husband of 15 years had battled diabetes for some time.

He underwent surgery on April 16.

Originally from Trench Town, Tony Tuff (real name Winston Anthony Morris) started his career in the early 1970s as a member of The African Brothers, a trio that also included fellow singer Lincoln “Sugar” Minott and Derrick “Bubbles” Howard.

As a solo act, he established himself a decade later with a series of hit singles, among them
Come fi Mash It, Deliver Me, and Girl I’ve Got to Get You.

He was one of the artistes associated with producer Henry “Junjo” Lawes’ dominant Volcano label and sound system during the 1980s. Yellowman, Barrington Levy and Linval Thompson were also part of that camp.

Due to Lawes’ distribution ties with London-based Greensleeves Records, Tony Tuff had an underground following in the United Kingdom.

While he continued to record songs, his days as a hitmaker ended in the 1980s.

Winston Anthony “Tony Tuff” Morris is survived by his wife, six children and grandchildren.