Hopeton Lewis RIP

My thanks to Aussie mate Mohair Slim for alerting me to the death of Hopeton Lewis, one of the pioneers of rock steady and early reggae, in Brooklyn at the age of 66. Hopeton practically invented rock steady with his 1966 recording of Take It Easy, recorded with Lynn Tait and the Jets, and his first UK release on Island the following year was the eponymously titled Rock Steady recorded in Jamaica for Federal Records. The B side was the equally brilliant Cool Collie, reputedly the first 'herb' record.
Hopeton recorded with Duke Reid but his most successful record was Grooving Out On Life, recorded with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires in 1971.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJpyHZpYug8  Later he formed his own company, Bay City Music, and released All Night Bubblin' in 1983 and then turned to gospel, with This Is Gospel in 1996, and Reaching Out To Jesus in 2000.
Here are the two sides of his collectable first Island single, with a re-attached skew-whiff centre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J_KvCqSNp4   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4YXYGjcDyE

Here's one of his Duke Reid 45s on Treasure Isle, a duet with Hugh Roy.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm1We1dj0BA