Reading Time: 4 minutes

Reactions rolled in from around the world yesterday as news spread of the death of legendary reggae artiste Bunny Wailer.

Born Neville O’Riley Livingston, the 73-year-old founding member of the Wailers, died Tuesday morning (March 2) at the St Andrew Memorial Hospital in St Andrew, Jamaica.

Livingston who had been ailing for some time had previously been hospitalised after suffering a stroke in July 2020. He had also had a stroke in 2018.

However, the cause of his death had up to late yesterday not been revealed.

LAST OF ORIGINAL WAILERS

Affectionately called ‘Jah B’, Livingston was the last surviving original member of The Wailers, after the deaths of Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in 1981 and 1987 respectively.

Livingston rose from humble beginnings to become a giant of reggae stage.

He was a writer and lead vocalist on Wailers’ songs such as Dreamland, Riding High, Brainwashing and Keep on Moving, winning the hearts and souls of his listeners.

He was also a solo recording artiste, producing singles such as Searching for love, Life Line, Bide Up, Arab Oil Weapon and a spin off from the group’s single, Pass It On.

After the original Wailers line up disbanded in 1974, he built a solo career in which he experimented with disco and other forms of music.

A multiple Grammy-winning artiste, Livingston received awards for Best Reggae Album in 1991 for Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley;
1995 for Crucial! Roots Classics and for his 1997 album Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary.

Livingston was in 2017 awarded membership in the Order of Merit, the fourth highest national honour in his homeland, Jamaica.

TRIBUTES TO ‘BUNNY’

In a statement last night, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said: “Bunny Wailer has made a tremendous impact on the world, setting the stage for a global movement a love for Rocksteady and reggae music.”

He continued: “His legendary performances have touched the hearts and souls of millions of fans in Jamaica and across the world. Many generations have been privileged to have been exposed to his conscious music.”

Noting that Wailer hailed from Trench Town in his South St Andrew constituency, Opposition Leader Mark Golding said: “Bunny Wailer will live on as a cultural legend and icon.”

Golding added: “He was a founding member of the Wailers, which has been the most influential contributor to the development of Jamaican popular music and, by extension, Brand Jamaica. We are proud that Jah B hailed from Trench Town in South St Andrew.”

“The passing of Bunny Wailer has left a void in the culture and entertainment sector that may never be filled.”

Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Oliva Grange said: “The passing of Bunny Wailer has left a void in the culture and entertainment sector that may never be filled.”

Grange added: “Today, on his passing, we offer deepest condolences to his family and share in their thanksgiving for a life well spent.

“Today Jamaica mourns one of its most revered icons whose journey from Nine Miles, his birthplace, to his sojourn in Kingston among the trailblazers and pioneers, and then to the world, has been a beacon for an industry that has bloomed with economic and cultural prosperity for its
exponents.”

Said Grange: “Bunny Wailer’s memory will be etched among the ‘buffalo soldier’ whose cultural warfare and creative energy carried reggae music and Jamaica to the international hall of fame and brought income to themselves and revenue to our country.

“Well done and walk good, ‘Blackheart Man’ Bunny, and may you bring rhythm and bass into your ‘Dreamland’. Jah lives.”

Dr Peter Philips, former president of the People’s National Party, said: “The passing of Bunny Wailer, the last of the original Wailers, brings to a close the most vibrant period of Jamaica’s musical experience. Bunny was a good, conscious Jamaican brethren.”

Other local, regional and international news outlet has also paid tribute to the late reggae icon.

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea said: “Oh man, god bless Bunny Wailer.
What a true rocker and noble man. I love him.”