Cocoa Tea (1959–2025), reggae icon

Cocoa Tea was an iconic reggae singer-songwriter best known for his smooth voice and his acclaimed record and single, “Riker’s Island.” 

Dahrran Diedrick (1979–2023), Big 12-leading Cornhuskers rusher 

Dahrran Diedrick , a Big 12-leading rusher for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, enjoyed a 10-year career in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League (CFL). 

Vincent Stewart (1958–2023), Defense Intelligence Agency director 

Vincent Stewart was the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the first Black man and first Marine to hold that position.

Harry Belafonte (1927–2023), legendary singer, actor, and activist

Harry Belafonte was the “King of Calypso,” a singer known for his signature song, “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” as well as an actor and a prominent civil rights activist.

Tyrone Downie (1956–2022), pianist with Bob Marley and the Wailers

Tyrone Downie was a pianist best known for his work with Bob Marley and the Wailers in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Mona Hammond (1931–2022), British actress in “EastEnders”

Mona Hammond was a Jamaican-British actress with a longtime stage career who starred on “EastEnders” in the 1990s.

Robbie Shakespeare (1953–2021), Sly and Robbie bassist

Robbie Shakespeare was the bassist in the legendary rhythm section Sly and Robbie.

Lee “Scratch” Perry (1936–2021), legendary reggae singer and dub pioneer

Lee “Scratch” Perry was one of the giants of reggae music, a singer and producer who pioneered the new genre of dub in the 1970s as he incorporated layered rhythms and samples into remixes of his work.

Bunny Wailer (1947–2021), reggae icon who co-founded the Wailers

Bunny Wailer was a giant of reggae music who co-founded the Wailers along with and Peter Tosh (1944–1987).

U-Roy (1942–2021), Jamaican musician who pioneered toasting

U-Roy was a Jamaican musician who pioneered toasting, a precursor to rap music in which a DJ talked over the records he was playing.

Gordon “Butch” Stewart (1941–2021), founder of Sandals and Beaches resorts

Gordon “Butch” Stewart was a Jamaican businessman who founded the popular all-inclusive resort chains Sandals and Beaches.

Toots Hibbert (1942–2020), reggae giant who led the Maytals

Toots Hibbert was the lead singer and primary songwriter for Toots and the Maytals, one of Jamaica’s most foundational reggae and ska bands.

Millie Small (1946–2020), “My Boy Lollipop” singer

Millie Small was a Jamaican singer who had a hit in 1964 with “My Boy Lollipop,” which is considered to be the first international ska hit.

Sam Clayton Jr. (2020), Jamaican bobsledder who helped inspire “Cool Runnings”

Sam Clayton, Jr. was a member of the Jamaican bobsled team that competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and inspired the 1993 movie “Cool Runnings.” He was also a sound engineer for the reggae band Steel Pulse.

Remembering Bob Marley

Bob Marley, with his band the Wailers, brilliantly combined reggae with ska, rocksteady, and British rock to make music beloved around the world. Marley is the best selling reggae artist of all time, and his 1977 album Exodus is considered one of the best albums ever produced. The album includes classic songs "One Love/People Get Ready," "Waiting in Vain," "Three Little Birds," and "Jamming." Marley was just 36 when he died of cancer in 1981. We're remembering the reggae icon on what would have been his 75th birthday.

Irving Burgie (1924–2019), “Day-O” songwriter

Irving Burgie  wrote the calypso song “Day-O” (aka “The Banana Boat Song”) which became a huge hit for singer Harry Belafonte in 1956. Burgie, who went by the name Lord Burgess, co-wrote the song with William Attaway, based on a traditional Jamaican folk song. “Day-O” spent 31 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and later was featured in a popular scene in the movie “Beetlejuice.” He wrote many more calypso songs for Belafonte including “Island in the Sun.” Burgie was a member of an all-black unit in the Army during World War II. After the war, he worked the folk music circuit in Greenwich Village and then began writing for Belafonte. His mother was a native of Barbados and Burgie wrote the country’s national anthem. He was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.

Bushwick Bill (1966–2019), rapper with the Geto Boys

Bushwick Bill was a member of the iconic Houston based rap trio the Geto Boys. Real name Richard Shaw, he was born in Kingston, Jamaica with dwarfism. He first joined the Geto Boys as a dancer and then became a rapper alongside Willie D and Scarface. The trio were pioneers of southern hip-hop and horrorcore. Bushwick Bill was featured on the Geto Boy’s hit songs, “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” and “Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta.” He also released multiple solo albums.