Reggae icon, Neville Livingston, more popularly known as “Bunny Wailer” is dead.   He died Tuesday morning at the Andrew’s Memorial Hospital in Kingston. He was 73.

Bunny Wailer, was the last surviving member of the original reggae music group The Wailers which also included Peter Tosh and Bob Marley.

He was a singer, songwriter and percussionist and has won three Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album.

In confirming his death, Culture Minister Olivia Grange said the nation remains grateful for the role that he played in the development and popularity of reggae music across the world.

She says what Bunny Wailer has done for reggae, as one of the pioneers and standard-bearers of the country’s music, lives on.  Bunny Wailer was awarded Jamaica’s fourth highest honour, the Order of Merit in 2017.   He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by IRIE FM in 2018

Meanwhile, the former leader of the opposition, Dr. Peter Phillips, has expressed sadness at the passing of Bunny Wailer.

In a statement, Dr. Philips describes him as a culturally grounded and aspiring man, who was committed to equal rights and justice for all people and was especially passionate about Jamaicans and people of African descent.

Dr. Philips has offered condolences to the Livingston family, friends and associates.