Entertainment
JAM | Aug 29, 2021

Reggae icon Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry dies at hospital

/ Our Today

administrator
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Reggae Icon Lee “Scratch” Perry died on Sunday (August 29) at Hospital in Lucea.

The Minister of Entertainment and Culture, Olivia Babsy Grange, confirmed the news, noting that she had spoke with his son Rocky.

“Officially confirming the passing of musical icon Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry. Spoke to his son, Rocky, this morning. My condolences to his widow, Mireille, his children and other relatives,” said Grange on Facebook.

Perry and his wife Mireille .

“What a man, what a music, what a life, what a genius,” she added.

Perry who was 85-years-old at the time of his passing is being remembered as an early pioneer in the development of reggae music, who worked alongside acts like Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, The Congos, Max and the Beastie Boys among others.

News of his passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes across social media platforms.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness was among those to share a tribute for the reggae great, recognizing his invaluable contribution to the genre.

“My deep condolences to the family, friends, and fans of legendary record producer and singer, Rainford Hugh Perry OD, affectionately known as “Lee Scratch” Perry,” he said on Facebook.

“Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s’ development of dub music with his early adoption of studio effects to create new instrumentals of existing reggae tracks,” he added.

Daughter of Bob Marley, Cedella Marley, also used social media platform, Instagram, to pay tribute to Perry who she affectionately called “Uncle Lee”.

“Lee Scratch Perry flying high….❤️ The up setter, trend setter, no one did it better, Fly high uncle Lee,” said Marley on Instagram.

Born in Kendal, Hanover on March 20, 1936 he is credited with creating beats in very unique ways, namely burying microphones under trees as well as blowing ganja smoke over tapes.

Perry released his latest work Heavy Rain in December 2019, a 12-track compilation that debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums Charts.

He leaves behind his wife Mireille, who he had two children with, as well as, four other children from a previous relationship.

Comments

What To Read Next