Veteran reggae star and lovers rock pioneer John Holt has
died in a London hospital, aged 69.
News of the Jamaican singer’s death came on 19 October from
Copeland Forbes, Holt’s manager since 2006, who confirmed his death to Jamaica
Observer Online. “John died at 2:40am English time. His [John’s] nephew
informed [us] of his death.” The cause of Holt’s death has yet to be confirmed.
Born in Kingston, Holt first rose to fame as a member of The
Paragons in the 1960s, a group in which he penned The Tide Is High, a track
which saw global notoriety in the 1980s with Blondie’s cover. During his time
in the rocksteady group, he also penned hits including Tonight, Ali Baba, I See
Your Face, and Wear You to the Ball.
In 1970, Holt left the Paragons to focus on his solo career,
and soon became one of the biggest names in reggae, with his track Stick By Me,
recorded with producer Bunny Lee, listed as the biggest-selling Jamaican record
of 1972.
A crucial figure in Jamaican culture, Holt’s sound was known
for its smooth ballad-styled qualities. This morning, the music industry has
paid its respects, with Trojan Records hailing him as a “huge talent and a true
gentleman”.
His last solo album was Peacemaker, released in 1993.
Source-the Guardian UK
Source-the Guardian UK
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