Steve Barrow, a respected British musicologist who wrote liner notes for the acclaimed box set, Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music, died in the United Kingdom on May 30 at age 80.

His death has been covered extensively by UK media, which consistently acknowledged his voluminous writing, covering the history of Jamaican music. Barrow also worked in promotions for companies such as Trojan, Island and Blood And Fire Records.

He co-founded the latter in 1993 with Mick Hucknall, lead singer of pop group Simply Red. That year also saw the release of the Island Records-produced Tougher Than Tough. Barrow’s comprehensive liner notes for that project was widely praised by reggae aficionados.

The box set comprises four compact discs and is considered among the definitive collections on the evolution of Jamaican music. Barrow also wrote for publications like Black Echoes, which covered the UK reggae scene for many years.

In 2012, he and Stuart Baker co-wrote Reggae Soundsystem: Original Reggae Album Cover Art, a 500-page book with over 1,000 full-size record label 45 rpm single designs and album jackets.

The Independent newspaper in the UK published a feature story on the book, describing it as “a compelling history of a young nation and its people”.

Barrow’s books also include The Rough Guide to Reggae, The Rough Guide Reggae: 100 Essential CDs, and King Jammy’s (co-written with Beth Lesser).

— Howard Campbell