Tribute To Reggae Legend Bunny Wailer.

The Jamaican singer-songwriter was best known as a founding member of The Wailers,alongside Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Grammy Award-winning reggae icon Bunny Wailer,also known as Neville Riley Livingston,has died,aged 73.The musician, from Kingston in Jamaica, was the last surviving founding member of The Wailers – following the deaths of Bob Marley in 1981 and Peter Tosh in 1987.Wailer, who received Jamaica’s Order Of Merit in 2017,had been in hospital since having a stroke in July 2020. 

Countless fans,collaborators and friends of Wailer have paid tribute to the reggae legend following news of his death last month. Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, noted that Wailer’s “contribution to Jamaica culture is priceless and his voice has touched many around the globe.” 

Considered one of the long-time standard- bearers of Reggae music, Bunny Wailer was founder and an original member of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae group, “The Wailers” along with late Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Bunny Wailer is a three-time Grammy Award winner. In 1991 he won the award for Best Reggae Album, “Time Will Tell,” a tribute to Bob Marley. Four years later, he won another Grammy with the album “Crucial Roots Classic”, and in 1997, his third Grammy was awarded for the “Hall of Fame”, a tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary.” 

Bunny Wailer truly an iconic figure and music maestro who’s solo career resulted in one of the most brilliant and inspiring albums in the entire Reggae lexicon…’Blackheart Man’. His contribution to Jamaican music across the past 60 years is immeasurable. Your memories will ever remain fresh in our minds. Rest in peace Bob,Rest in peace Tosh and Rest in peace Bunny, rest in peace, the ageless voices. Good night.

Author: Gbenga Teejay Okunlola

London, UK

teejayok@gmail.com