Another Reggae legend has stepped off the earthly stage and is currently winging his way to join that ever-expanding orchestra somewhere beyond the rainbow. 2020 has been especially hard for reggae lovers. We’ve lost Bob Andy, Dobby Dobson, Toots, and now Johnny Nash.
From NPR:
Johnny Nash, a singer who scored a No. 1 hit with "I Can See Clearly Now" in 1972, has died. He was 80 years old. His son, Johnny Nash Jr., confirmed his death to The Associated Press, saying his father had died of natural causes at his home in Houston.
Along with his own pop career, Nash had a surprising hand in the development of reggae. As one of the owners of the JAD Records label, he signed Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer to an exclusive deal early in their careers.
In his song, “More Questions Than Answers,” which he wrote, Johnny asked:
I've asked the question time and time again
Why is there so little love among men
But what is life, how do we live
What should we take and how much should we give
I don’t know how much he took, but the records show that he gave a lot to his fellow man. That through his musical contributions he left the world a much better place than he found it. In my previous tribute to him, I recounted how I heard Bunny Wailer say that Mr. Nash used his own money to see to the welfare of the young men who’d become known to the world as Bob Marley and The Wailers.
According to Bunny, there were many Jamaican Reggae acts burning up the charts at the time, but even though Bob and the group were to be the opening act for him [Nash] the teens had no idea that he was in fact the brightest star of them all. Yes, American Johnny Nash was the most popular Reggae artist in the United Kingdom. In fact, not only was Johnny Nash the first American to record and promote reggae, he was also instrumental in getting the kids, who’d later become known as Bob Marley and the Wailers, the exposure and support they needed as they started the journey that would lead to them changing the cultural landscape of the whole world. Bunny recalled that not only did JN go all out in opening doors for the teens, he also used his personal funds to see to their welfare.
Johnny Nash was a beautiful human being with a beautiful voice and the world is a little less beautiful with his passing. A grateful reggae nation thank you, Sir. May you rest in peace.
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Tributes
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This is reggae music
Welcome to the sound
You need to look no further
The universe is found
Reggae music sound
~ Zap Pow
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Let’s celebrate him!
Guava Jelly
There Are More Questions Than Answers
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