Kingston (AP) – The famous Jamaican musician Lee “Scratch” Perry is dead. He died on Sunday morning (local time) at the age of 85 in a hospital, as announced by the office of Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
“Today Jamaica has undoubtedly lost the rhythm and soul of a prolific music icon who has inspired many. Lee” Scratch “Perry was truly one of the most important and creative figures Jamaica has produced,” Holness said. There was initially no information on the cause of death.
Perry was born Rainford Hugh Perry in northwest Jamaica in March 1936. As a producer and singer in the 1960s and 70s, he was one of the pioneers of reggae music and the genre of dub that emerged from it. His production techniques also influenced many musicians from other directions in the decades that followed. He worked with the reggae legend Bob Marley and other well-known Jamaican musicians, but also with artists from other countries such as Paul McCartney, The Clash and the Beastie Boys. In 2003 he received the Grammy for the best reggae album for his record “Jamaican ET”.
The eccentric Perry had only recently returned to Jamaica after years in Europe. In January he wrote on Instagram that in Switzerland – where he had last lived – it was too cold and the “energy” was bad. He complained about the anti-corona measures there. He needs Jamaica’s sunshine, Perry wrote.
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