Tributes continue to pour in following the passing of legendary Rock Steady singer and songwriter, Bob Andy.
Bob Andy who was ailing for some time, died this morning at his home in Kingston. He was 75-years-old.
Fellow entertainer and friend, Mutabaruka tells Music News that Bob Andy died of Cancer.
The world-renowned dub poet also shares some of his fondest memories with his friend, Bob Andy.
From 1969 through the early ’70s, Bob Andy teamed with Marcia Griffiths to record several singles and albums, including the U.K. hits “Young, Gifted and Black” and “Pied Piper,” as the duo Bob and Marcia.
Singer Marcia Griffiths who was close with Bob Andy express sadness because she was unable to travel to see him due to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Bob Andy first attracted attention as a founding member of ’60s rocksteady vocal group the Paragons. His solo career began in the late ’60s when he recorded a string of singles for Coxsone Dodd’s, Studio One.
Copeland Forbes who met Bob Andy during the 60s, remembers him as someone meticulous when it comes to publishing and copyright laws. Forbes who was also instrumental in booking local and international shows for Bob Andy said he was one of our greats.
Bob Andy toured the world and headlined many festivals including the first Reggae Sunsplash in Japan in 1985. In 2005 he toured Africa for the first time where he performed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
However, Bob Andy was not content to be just a player in the music business and later established a Caribbean Copyright Association to protect artists.
His nephew, Singer J says one of the greatest lessons his uncle taught him was the importance of copyright.
Regarded as one of reggae’s most influential writers, Bob Andy has written hits for the likes Marcia Griffiths, Ken Booth, and Delroy Wilson.
Veteran singer Ken Booth praises Bob Andy for writing one of his biggest songs, his 1967 hit, Gonna Tell You Goodbye Babe.
Meanwhile, Bongo Herman remembers Bob Andy as a straight forward musician and a great writer who will be sadly missed.
In 1978, Bob Andy took a five-year sabbatical from music to concentrate on his career as an actor. During that period, he starred in the feature film, ‘Children Of Babylon’ and many other theatre productions.
In 1983 he returned to music and released the album ‘Friends’ and a single ‘Honey’ both of which reached Number One on the UK Reggae Charts.
Bob Andy was known for his original works such as I’ve Got to Go Back Home, Fire Burning, and Too Experienced, as well as successful covers Games People, Play and Young, Gifted and Black, which was done with Marcia Griffiths.
In 2006, the Jamaican government awarded Bob Andy the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander for his contributions to the development of Jamaican music.