Drummer Cornel Marshall, an early member of Third World, died in Brooklyn, New York, on June 20.

He was 76 years old.

His widow, Paulee Marshall, confirmed his death.

She told the Jamaica Observer that her husband “passed suddenly”, sharing that they attended a Burning Spear concert one week earlier at the Brooklyn Bowl, which he enjoyed and was very upbeat about.

“He really enjoyed himself. He liked [opening act] Kabaka Pyramid, whom he said was the future of reggae,” she told the Observer.

Marshall played drums in Tomorrow’s Children before joining Third World which formed in 1973. After leaving Third World he became a member of the Zap Pow and Twelve Tribes of Israel bands.

Born in east Kingston, Marshall attended St George’s College, where he also played Manning Cup football. Several members of Tomorrow’s Children, including bass guitarist Pluto Shervington, also attended that school.

Last year Marshall went on the road with Junior Marvin’s The Legendary Wailers Band.

While his time with the band was brief, he is usually credited for helping to create Third World’s eclectic sound.

The band was co-founded by keyboardist Ibo Cooper and guitarist Stephen “Cat” Coore.

Cooper died in October last year at age 71.

With Zap Pow, Marshall played on Last Disciples (Jah Children Arise), a 1977 song that was sampled by Bermudian singer Collie Buddz for his 2007 hit song Come Around. He and fellow members — Dwight Pinkney, David Madden, Glen DaCosta, Michael Williams, Richard Johnson, Max Edwards, and Beres Hammond — were honoured by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association in 2014.

Although he was a practising Rastafarian, for several years Marshall played drums at Divine Gospel Tabernacle, a Pentecostal church in Brooklyn.

Cornel Marshall is survived by Paulee, to whom he was married for over 25 years, five children, grandchildren, brother Raymond, stepchildren, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law.