Jamaican reggae star Cocoa Tea dead at 65

Reggae vocalist and Jamaican nationalist icon Cocoa Tea has died. He was 65.

The singer, calved Calvin George Scott, died Tuesday of cardiac apprehension successful Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Malvia Scott, the singer’s wife, confirmed the decease to the paper the Jamaica Gleaner. She told the insubstantial that helium was diagnosed with lymphoma and pneumonia successful caller years.

“He was decidedly precise brave,” Malvia Scott told the Gleaner. “He was affirmative passim it all. About 3 weeks agone erstwhile helium was admitted successful the infirmary helium asked if I was disquieted and I said ‘I americium ever worried’. He told maine not to interest due to the fact that everything was going to beryllium each right. He was ever precise hopeful.”

The singer, calved successful the tiny colony of Rocky Point, Jamaica, was known for his romantic, honey-sweet dependable that shaped and shifted with generations of dancehall and lovers rock.

Singles “Rocking Dolly” and “I Lost My Sonia” were defining genre hits successful the ’80s, and his debut LP “Weh Dem a Go Do…Can’t Stop Cocoa Tea” made him a superstar wrong Jamaican euphony and globally among reggae fans. Follow-ups similar “The Marshall” and “Come Again” incorporated much spiritual Rastafarian lyrical themes, and helium joined a supergroup with Shabba Ranks and Home T that scored a large deed with “Holding On.”

Cocoa Tea remained politically resonant and adaptable arsenic dancehall turned grittier into the ’90s. After moving to New York, helium released the searing social-critique azygous “Riker’s Island” successful 1991, and anti-war tracks “No Blood for Oil” and “Oil Ting” that opposed the archetypal Gulf War, starring to vigor bans successful Jamaica and the U.K.

He kept up his drawstring of genre hits passim the decennary with releases connected apical reggae labels Greensleeves and VP, with Motown issuing a compilation “Holy Mt. Zion” successful 1997. He founded his ain label, Roaring Lion, which released records by apical acts specified arsenic Buju Banton, Cutty Ranks and Sizzla, and paid tribute to America’s archetypal Black president with a 2008 azygous “Barack Obama.”

He performed astatine Buju Banton’s Long Walk to Freedom performance successful Kingston successful 2019, and past performed 3 years agone connected the Welcome to Jamrock cruise.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness wrote connected Instagram that “I widen condolences to the family, friends, and supporters of Calvin George Scott, affectionately known arsenic Cocoa Tea. His creaseless vocals and compelling lyrics gave america timeless classics similar ‘Rocking Dolly’ and ‘I’ve Lost My Sonia,’ songs that person go anthems successful our taste landscape.”

“Beyond his philharmonic genius,” Holness continued, “Cocoa Tea was a beacon of kindness and generosity, consistently uplifting the little fortunate and embodying the warmth of our nation. Cocoa Tea’s power extended beyond our shores, touching hearts worldwide and solidifying Jamaica’s spot connected the planetary philharmonic stage.”

Cocoa Tea is survived by woman Malvia and 8 children.