On Tuesday, 2nd March, 2021, the world was met with the news of the passing on of Bunny Wailer.
His death was confirmed by his manager Maxine Stowe and Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. The cause of death was not given. However, the reggae legend had been in hospital since December, 2020.
Wailer first suffered a stroke in late 2018 and another in July, 2020. He had been receiving treatment in both Jamaica and Cuba.
Together with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer was a founding member of the reggae band The Wailers. The three are considered as pioneers of the reggae music genre.
Bunny was the last surviving member of the band after the passing on of Bob Marley in 1981 and Tosh in 1987.
Brief History of Bunny Wailer
Born Neville O’Riley Livingston on April 10th, 1947, Wailer was a singer-songwriter and percussionist. He was raised by his father who owned a grocery store. This is where he got to meet Marley and the two children became friends.
The two made their first music at Stepney Primary School and Junior High School.
Wailer and Marley would later be raised as step-brothers after Marley’s mother moved in with Wailer’s dad. This was following the passing on of Bob Marley’s father in 1955.
Later, after moving to Trenchtown, Kingston, they met Peter Tosh and formed a vocal band called The Wailing Wailers. Marley would later reveal that inspiration of the name was because they “started out crying”.
The band would later change its name to The Wailers, adding Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith to the group. They also added the famous backing vocalists known as The I-Threes. These were Bob’s widow Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths.
Bob Marley and The Wailers are best known for their hits “Stir It Up”, “Get Up, Stand Up”, “Buffalo Soldier” and “Redemption Song”.
Bunny Wailer’s Achievements
After leaving The Wailers in 1974, Bunny went on to win 3 Grammy Awards. Two of them were for the Best Reggae Album. One was for the Best Reggae Recording for the song “Time Will Tell – A Tribute to Bob Marley”.
In 2012, the Jamaican Government bestowed upon him the Order of Jamaica. This was later followed by the Order of Merit In 2017, Jamaica’s highest order.
Tributes To Bunny Wailer
Many sent their tributes to the reggae legend. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness commended the positivity that the legend’s music had all over the world.
#PressRelease: Jamaica Has Lost a Pioneer in Reggae pic.twitter.com/B93QXNQBQp
— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) March 2, 2021
Celebrated artist Shaggy also sent his condolences.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a reggae lover himself, also sent his condolences
The world has lost a LEGEND in Bunny Wailer. Born Neville Livingston, he was the last surviving member of The Wailers that was formed in 1963 and shot to global acclaim.
My condolences to his family, friends and all reggae fans worldwide!
Fare thee well Maestro! pic.twitter.com/MDTLZLTe3x
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) March 2, 2021
Bunny Wailer died at the age of 73.
At C.O.K we condole with the family of the legend and celebrate the life of a reggae pioneer.
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