Veteran Dancehall artiste Nardo Ranks, celebrated for hits such as Dem A Bleach has passed away.

The news was shared on Sunday, December 22, by fellow reggae artiste Red Fox.

Nardo Ranks, born Gary Henderson, grew up in the vibrant Dunkirk community of east Kingston, where his love for music was evident from an early age. His journey into dancehall began in the 1980s, as he sharpened his skills on the Caveman sound system. He gained attention in 1989 with his debut track Wha Happen Sound Boy, a collaboration with Wayne Wonder.

His energetic performances, distinctive deep voice and catchy tracks solidified his presence in the dancehall scene, making him a regular on the charts by the early 1990s.

Ranks has lived in the United States, for many years, where he continued his career in entertainment as both a deejay and an actor.

“Wow, my condolences to his family,” one fan wrote. “Big, big legend…will be missed.”

In October, Ranks shared what would be his final Instagram update, promoting his latest song Reggae Music and encouraging fans to stream it across digital platforms.

Though the cause of his death remains unknown, fans and dancehall comrades mourn the loss of a beloved figure in the dancehall community, whose influence spanned decades.