Sugar Minott ordered to rest

Veteran roots singer Sugar Minott has been ordered to rest by doctors after a stress-related illness forced him to cancel a show in Toronto, Canada, last Thursday.

Marcia Beckford, the singer's girlfriend, told The Sunday Gleaner that he was scheduled to perform at the Lula Lounge but experienced severe headaches and shoulder pains last Wednesday.

The 53-year-old vocalist was taken to the Medical Associates hospital in St Andrew where tests were done on him. The doctors advised him against travelling, Beckford said.

"It was not anything serious. He's okay and coming on," she said.

Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott is recognised as one of the most influential figures in modern dancehall. Many of the genre's major artistes including Junior Reid, Tristan Palmer, Little John, Tenor Saw, Yami Bolo, Tony Rebel and Garnet Silk passed through his Youthman Promotions camp.

While he produced songs by many acts, Minott is best known as a performer.

He got his start in the music business during the early 1970s as a member of the African Brothers trio which also included singer Tony Tuff.

He broke through as a solo artiste late that decade at Studio One where he recorded several grassroots hits like Mr DC, Vanity and House Is Not a Home. Other hits during that period included River Jordan and Never Gonna Give Jah Up.

Minott's most fruitful era was the 1980s when he made local charts with anthems like Herbman Hustling, Good Thing Going, No Vacancy and Dancehall Style.

- Howard Campbell