Last year when Fred Locks was approached by veteran session guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith to cover Jacob Miller’s Suzy Wong, the veteran singer had no second thoughts. His version, produced by Alphanso “King Shark” Henclewood, is homage to the charismatic vocalist who died on March 23 1980, 45 years ago today.

Miller, lead singer of the Inner Circle Band, died in an auto accident in Kingston at age 27. He had recently returned from Brazil with Bob Marley and Chris Blackwell, head of Island Records, which opened an office in the South American country.

Fred Locks, Miller’s distant cousin, describes him as “one of di greatest singer” and “one of mi favourite artistes”.

He said during the 1970s, they were managed by Talent Corporation, a Kingston company operated by Tommy Cowan. Although both men — who had roots in Manchester and St Elizabeth — knew they were related, they were not close friends.

“Anytime wi saw each other, him woulda sey, ‘wha’ppen family’? And I remember I was at one of him show at Hunter College in New York, an’ him sey, ‘big up mi family, Fred Locks’!”, Fred Locks recalled.

Miller was born in Manchester but raised in the Rousseau Road area of Kingston. His career started at Studio One in the late 1960s with the hit song, Love Is A Message, but he became a star in the roots-reggae explosion of the 1970s as a solo act with producer Augustus Pablo and with Inner Circle.

As frontman for the latter, he had a number of hit singles including Tenement Yard, Tired fi Lick Weed Inna Bush, Standing Firm and Forward Ever, Backward Ever. Miller was recording what became the band’s New Age Music album at the time of his death.

In 2019, Jacob Miller was awarded the Order of Distinction by Jamaica’s government for his contribution to the country’s music.