Frankie Paul dies, another Jamaican icon from dancehall's golden era! Learn more.

The great Frankie Paul, one of the icons of reggae/dancehall history, has died in Kingston, Jamaica. Frankie had been suffering from kidney problems and was recently undergoing dialysis two days a week, according to his sister Trisk Clarke. Last year, one of his feet was amputated due to a severe infection. Unfortunately the singer did not survive the advance of the disease and passed away today at 10 a.m. at the University Hospital of West Indies (UHWI). Paul was only 52 years old. Friends, including singer and producer Wayne Lonesome, were helping Frankie pay the extremely high hospital bill where he had been hospitalized since April, an amount that reached exorbitant 1.5 million dollars. Paul was the biggest dancehall star of the 80s and 90s, immortalizing hits like "Worries In the Dance", "Pass the Ku Shung Peng", "Tidal Wave", "Cassanova" and "Sarah". Paul Blake, his real name, was born blind and devoted the beginning of his life to the Salvation Army School for the Blind. While there, he met the renowned singer Stevie Wonder, who came to Kingston to perform at the National Stadium in 1970. Wonder, also blind, inspired Frankie to become a professional singer, and — like his idol — also a multi-instrumentalist. Rest in peace.

IN MEMORIAM

Check out this and other legends who have left us, in the special "In Memoriam" section.