Gregory Isaacs RIP

Sad to hear the news (on Jools Holland's show) of the death of the 'Cool Ruler', reggae superstar Gregory Isaacs. Isaacs was a true great, with a string of big reggae hits, most notably Night Nurse (a gift for advertisers of the anti flu product). He was just 59.

Gregory Isaacs made his recording debut in 1968 with a duet with Winston Sinclair, Another Heartache, recorded for producer Byron Lee. In 1973 he teamed up with Errol Dunkley with My Only Lover, credited as the first lovers rock record. He had a string of hits in the three years that followed, ranging from ballads to roots reggae including All I Have Is Love, Lonely Soldier, Black a Kill Black and Extra Classic, but it was Night Nurse in 1982 that made him a reggae superstar. I saw him only once, although I tried to see him a number of times, but sadly he wasn't the most reliable of acts. But he was certainly one of the top reggae acts of the last 40 years. I have nine of his albums, including Slum Burning Sounds, Soon Forward, The Lonely Lover and, of course, Night Nurse. He will be missed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6oYyG0KcvQ