Wayne Perkins, the American guitarist whose searing solo helped make The Wailers’ Concrete Jungle a classic, died in the United States on March 16. He was 74.

“For those who haven’t heard, Wayne passed away yesterday peacefully,” his brother Dale said on Facebook. “Our sisters and family members were there with him. We appreciate all the kind thoughts and memories. He was one of a kind, and we loved him very much, and thank you all.”

Dale did not say where his brother died, but the veteran session musician was an Alabama native. He died shortly after suffering a stroke.

Perkins had been a member of Smith Perkins Smith, a short-lived rock band who were signed to Island Records in the early 1970s. It was then that he met The Wailers who were also with Island.

Wanting to break The Wailers to an audience outside of reggae, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell brought in Perkins to overdub a rock solo on Concrete Jungle that is rated among the best in reggae.

Concrete Jungle is from Catch A Fire, The Wailers’ (Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston) first album for Island Records that was released in 1973.

Perkins went on to record with The Rolling Stones, playing on several songs that appear on Tattoo You, their 1981 album.

— Howard Campbell