2021: Remembering the fallen soldiers
Published:Friday | January 7, 2022 | 12:06 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
From cultural icons to poets and reggae and dancehall pioneers, the year 2021 marked the end of a legacy-filled journey for several stalwarts in the entertainment fraternity, and many tears were shed at their passing.
Today, we pause to remember these fallen soldiers, even as we treasure the musical and other memories that they have left behind and which will be highlighted by generations to come.
On January 5 last year, news came that veteran deejay Charmaine McKenzie, more popularly known as Sister Charmaine, had died in the United States. She was 53. Cultural icon Easton Lee also passed away in January, after a brief illness in Miramar, South Florida, where he lived. He was 89.
Many were shocked by the death of singer Yvonne Sterling, who had sensationally restarted her career after being down and out for many years. Sterling, 64, passed away on January 18 after suffering a stroke two weeks prior.
Ronnie Nasralla, well known for his role in the Jamaican music industry, died on January 20 at age 90 at home in Atlanta, Georgia. Captain Johnny Johnson, a former member of the Techniques, died in Miami, Florida, at the age of 76.
Pioneer of toasting, Ewart Beckford, better known to the world as Daddy U-Roy and The Godfather, made his transition in February. He was 78. His life partner, 65-year-old Marcia Smikle, passed away six months later.
Shabba Ranks’ beloved mother, Constance ‘Mama Christie’ Christie, passed away in February, and so too did veteran roots theatre actress Ruth Samuels.
Neville ‘Bunny Wailer’ Livingston, The Blackheart Man, and the last surviving member of the original Wailers trio that included Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, died on Tuesday, March 2 at the age of 73.
Trinity, aka Junior Brammer, of Three Piece Suit fame, died on April 9. He was 67.
Beloved theatre giant, Volier ‘Maffie’ Johnson, passed away suddenly on Friday, July 9. Johnson had been involved in theatre for more than 50 years.
Legendary reggae singer and record producer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Upsetter, died in August at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea at the age of 85. Cecil ‘Skilla’ Powell, the younger brother of CEO Winston ‘Wee Pow’ Powell, also passed away in August. Skilla was hailed as the “backbone” of Stone Love. Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, the first woman of dub poetry, died on August 4, at the age of 65.
Jamaican songbird Karen Smith, a former president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians and Affiliates Union, passed away in hospital on September 11 at the age of 60.
Musician Gitsy Willis, of Murder She Wrote fame, died on October 19, one month after celebrating his 73rd birthday.
Terrence ‘Astro’ Wilson of British reggae band UB40 passed away in November at the age of 64.
Drummer Michael ‘Mikey Boo’ Richards, a top session and touring musician, died in Kingston on November 28 at age 74.
Beloved Rastafarian doctor, Dr Carlton ‘Pee Wee’ Fraser, a former Reggae Boyz team physician, passed away at the Florida Medical Center in Ft Lauderdale on November 21. He was 74.
Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare, one half of the famous Riddim Twins, Sly and Robbie, celebrated his 68th birthday on September 27. The acclaimed bass player made his transition on December 8.
Jamaican world-famous bass player, Phil Chen, passed away on the morning of December 14 after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.
Foundation singer Leo Graham, who began his recording career as lead vocalist of the Jamaican trio known as the Bleechers, died on December 19. He was 80.
Multi-instrumentalist, musical arranger and record producer, Mikey ‘Mao’ Chung, passed away December 28 at the age of 71.