The global music community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Stephen “Cat” Coore, legendary guitarist, cellist, and founding member of Third World. Coore, a towering figure in reggae music, died on Sunday, January 18, 2026.

As the industry grapples with the loss of another musical icon, less than two months after the passing of Jimmy Cliff, those closest to Coore say he embodied reggae and wore the title of ambassador with immense pride.

“Cat loved music. Music was him, music is him. He represented the soundtrack of our lives and was proud to carry the spirit of Jamaica with him everywhere he travelled,” said Band Manager Heather Cameron.

Describing the late musician as “kind and compassionate”, Cameron said his passing came as a shock, as he had been making international appearances in December. She shared that, aside from being faced with the usual fatigue that accompanied ageing, Coore was well.

“We’re all still kind of shocked. We spent the summer in Europe and did lots of travelling last year. Aside from the normal stuff that comes with age, he was good. We finished up some shows in Zurich in December, and Cat returned to Jamaica to spend Christmas with his family,” she shared, revealing that the singer made his transition peacefully while he slept.

Outlining that he will be greatly missed, Cameron said Coore’s impact far exceeded the studio or the stage. She expressed that, as a humanitarian, the late entertainer also dedicated much of his life to philanthropy, environmental conservation, and social upliftment.

Coore served as a long-time Goodwill Ambassador for the Issa Trust Foundation, the non-profit arm of Couples Resorts Jamaica. He was deeply involved in their “For The Children” initiatives, which provide critical health care and equipment to paediatric wards across Jamaica. He was also a prominent ambassador for the Alligator Head Foundation in Port Antonio, where he used his platform to advocate for marine conservation, specifically targeting issues like overfishing and plastic pollution.

Tony “Ruption” Williams, who joined Third World in 1997, also shared similar sentiments. Reminiscing on his early days in the band, Williams told the Jamaica Observer that Coore was the most fun person to be around. Always finding ways to lighten the mood, Williams said his bandmate embodied happiness.

“Before I was even asked to play with Third World, I admired the band. I was a big fan of their music, and so it was an automatic yes when they asked. They kept their standards high, and so it was a great honour being a part of that legacy,” he said. “That honour became even greater as I settled into the band, and Cat was a big part of that. He was one of the greatest guitarists in the world, but he was also the nicest, most jovial person. He would joke nonstop, and he was a true humanitarian. He will be heavily missed.”

Outlining that the band has experienced tremendous loss since “Bunny Rugs’”passing in 2014, Williams and Cameron said the band will continue to honour their legacies through the music.

For Cameron, the band is a family, with members prepared to stand in the gap as the group continues to share reggae music with the world.

“Music doesn’t stop; it is continuous and lives on forever. Third World will never die. We will continue playing the band’s timeless catalogue because there is longevity in this band. Ruption has been with the band for 29 years, Richard Daley has been there since the foundation days, and Norris has been there 20 plus years. We will honour the legacy of Cat the same way we honour the legacies of all the others, through the music,” she said. “On stage is the best way we know how to pay tribute, and I know Cat definitely wouldn’t want the music to stop.”

The band, which was founded in 1973, has since lost a number of its founding members, including Bunny Rugs (2014); Irvin “Carrot” Jarrett (2018); Ibo Cooper (2023); Cornell Marshall, who served as an early drummer (2024); Milton “Prilly” Hamilton; and Rupert “Gypsy” Bent III, who both died in 2025.

Ewan Simpson, chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), said as the country prepares to celebrate Reggae Month in February, the time must be spent honouring Coore’s legacy.

“It [Coore’s passing] has come at a time when we are still reeling from the loss of Jimmy, and Barry G, who has not even yet been buried. To lose such a musical Icon on the cusp of Reggae Month is tough, but we must use the opportunity to celebrate his legacy,” Simpson said. “The legacy of the Third World is too great to die. I trust that the team has already been organising for its longevity with the appropriate legal and artistic decisions such that the world can continue enjoy live offerings from this great Jamaican outfit. Great bands can outlive their original members, and they should! That’s why they are great. Just like great companies outlive their founding directors.”

As the musical director of Third World, Coore was instrumental in crafting the “reggae-fusion” sound that propelled Jamaican music onto the world stage through timeless classics like 96 Degrees in the Shade and Now That We’ve Found Love. His mastery of the cello, an unconventional instrument in reggae, became a hallmark of the band’s sophisticated sound and a symbol of his lifelong mission to expand the boundaries of the genre.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Third World’s first album eponymously titled.

Cat Coore

Third World in performance at The Casino in Dania Beach, Florida, in July 2019. From left are: Stephen “Cat” Coore, Norris Webb, and Richie Daley. (Photos: Observer File)