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The Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs, passed away today in London. Known as the master of ”lovers rock” — smooth vocals over cool grooves — Isaacs made his mark singing romantic songs. However, he also was an eloquent spokesperson for Jamaica’s poor, addressing social social problems in songs such as “A Riot” and “Village of the Underprivileged.” For me, Isaacs’s most arresting work is in songs in which he carried on the rocksteady sound of master vocalists, such as Alton Ellis and Dobby Dobson (check out his covers of rocksteady classics “Tumblin’ Tears” [Ellis] and “Loving Pauper” [Dobson - below]).
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- Reggae Star Gregory Isaacs Dies (sugarslam.com)
- Reggae singer Gregory Isaacs, the ‘Cool Ruler,’ dies at 59 (thestar.com)
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