Lee "Scratch" Perry — the Jamaican dub experimentalist who revolutionized reggae and other genres like hip-hop and dance — has died.
According to local media, Perry passed away on Sunday (August 29) morning in the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Jamaica. No cause of death has been revealed as of press time. He was 85.
The reggae legend's career spanned seven decades. He made his name in the late '60s with the 1968 single "People Funny Boy," which became a huge hit in Jamaica and the U.K. The same year, he founded Upsetter Records — a label through which he released his own Perry and the Upsetters album Return of Django in 1969.
Upsetter went on to release recordings by many major Jamaican artists, including the Wailers and early Bob Marley and the Wailers sessions. As both an artist and a producer, Perry was instrumental in establishing Jamaican music's influence globally.
Among Perry's many other great collaborators and admirers were the Beastie Boys, the Clash, Brian Eno, Adrian Sherwood, the Congos, Afrika Bambaataa, Mad Professor and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who once referred to him as "the Salvador Dali of music" in an interview with Rolling Stone.
"He's a mystery. The world is his instrument — you just have to listen," Richards said. "More than a producer, he knows how to inspire the artist's soul."
Many musicians have paid tribute to the icon since the news of his passing, as well as Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
"My deep condolences to the family, friends, and fans of legendary record producer and singer, Rainford Hugh Perry OD, affectionately known as 'Lee Scratch' Perry," Holness wrote in a tweet.
"Undoubtedly, Lee Scratch Perry will always be remembered for his sterling contribution to the music fraternity. May his soul Rest In Peace," he added at the end of the Twitter thread.
See more tributes to the maestro's memory below.
Back in 2002, Exclaim! featured a timeline of Perry's career and pivotal contributions to nearly every musical form to come out of Jamaica in his lifetime.
According to local media, Perry passed away on Sunday (August 29) morning in the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Jamaica. No cause of death has been revealed as of press time. He was 85.
The reggae legend's career spanned seven decades. He made his name in the late '60s with the 1968 single "People Funny Boy," which became a huge hit in Jamaica and the U.K. The same year, he founded Upsetter Records — a label through which he released his own Perry and the Upsetters album Return of Django in 1969.
Upsetter went on to release recordings by many major Jamaican artists, including the Wailers and early Bob Marley and the Wailers sessions. As both an artist and a producer, Perry was instrumental in establishing Jamaican music's influence globally.
Among Perry's many other great collaborators and admirers were the Beastie Boys, the Clash, Brian Eno, Adrian Sherwood, the Congos, Afrika Bambaataa, Mad Professor and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who once referred to him as "the Salvador Dali of music" in an interview with Rolling Stone.
"He's a mystery. The world is his instrument — you just have to listen," Richards said. "More than a producer, he knows how to inspire the artist's soul."
Many musicians have paid tribute to the icon since the news of his passing, as well as Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
"My deep condolences to the family, friends, and fans of legendary record producer and singer, Rainford Hugh Perry OD, affectionately known as 'Lee Scratch' Perry," Holness wrote in a tweet.
"Undoubtedly, Lee Scratch Perry will always be remembered for his sterling contribution to the music fraternity. May his soul Rest In Peace," he added at the end of the Twitter thread.
See more tributes to the maestro's memory below.
Back in 2002, Exclaim! featured a timeline of Perry's career and pivotal contributions to nearly every musical form to come out of Jamaica in his lifetime.
