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Johnny Nash, former American reggae and pop singer-songwriter is one of the first non-Jamaican singers to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica. Nash departed at the age of 80 last Tuesday. His death has sent the popular band down memory lane. The Billboard also reflects on the life of Johnny Nash in a celebratory piece last week, for its “Forever No. 1” series which honours recently deceased artistes who achieved a Billboard Hot 100 No.1 single. Nash was apart of the Fab 5 reggae group.
Frankie Campbell, Fab 5 frontman reminisces on 1972 when Johnny Nash was searching for a band to join to work on an album. He was introduced by Harry Johnson of Harry J Studio. Nash had been in Europe with Jamaican icons such as Bob Marley and was motivated to include some of Bob Marley’s song on his album. Nash was managed by Danny Simms and he worked on six of Marley’s songs which include: Coma Coma, How Good It Is, You Poured Sugar On Me, Stir it Up, Guava Jelly and More Questions Than Answers.
Tributes have been rendered upon hearing that reggae icon Johnny Nash has passed. Subsequently, in the Number 1 position on the iTunes Top 100 Reggae Singles chart is the cover version of Nash’s hit, “I Can See Clearly Now” by Jamaican reggae icon Jimmy Cliff. Johnny Nash is a true legend and his contributions to the reggae culture will never be forgotten!
-T.W