Reggae artiste Jah Fabio, whose given name is Favio Velasco, passed away on Saturday in Guadalajara,  Mexico. He was 43.

The reggae artiste, who was booked to appear on this year’s Reggae Sumfest show in July, reportedly passed away after suffering a heart attack.

Street promoter Boswell ‘Stampede’ Lammie offered his condolences to the singer’s friends and family in Mexico.

“This is a very sad time for me, I lost a friend, a great, great friend as Jah Fabio passed away. Fabio was an artiste who loved reggae music and loved Jamaican culture.  My condolences go out to his family and friends in Mexico,” Stampede told Observer Online.

Reports are that the native of Guadalajara, Jalisco had battled health problems related to his kidneys for years prior to his death.

Jah Fabio began his career in 2005 and quickly established himself as a key figure in the roots reggae and dancehall genres in Mexico. His music, laden with messages of social awareness and faith, took him to stages in Mexico, Europe and Latin America, where he collaborated with artists from countries such as Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Argentina.

In addition to performing, he also worked as a music producer and founded his own independent label, which allowed him to maintain creative control over his work and spread the positive message of reggae.

Jah Fabio performed in Kingston for the first time last February and, according to his social media posts, he was excited to return to Jamaica for Reggae Sumfest. On April 18, he told his followers that he was “very happy and proud to be part of this legendary festival for the third time”.

He is best known for the song, Vale La Pena, for the record label, Evidence Music.

– Claude Mills