Farewell to Larry Marshall, one of the pioneers of Jamaican music! Learn more.

Fitzroy Marshall, better known as Larry Marshall, passed away on August 25. The news had not yet been reported in the newspapers of his country, which is a shame given his importance to the history of Jamaican music. Larry began his career in the early 60s recording with producers such as Prince Buster and Coxsone Dodd (Studio One). Besides singing he was one of the sound engineers at Studio One. One of his biggest hits, "Nanny Goat" is considered by many as the first reggae recorded at Coxsone Dodd's Studio One, marking the transition from Rocksteady to the Jamaican rhythm that conquered the world. During his career he achieved various other successes in Jamaica such as "Throw me Corn" (1971) and "I Admire You" (1975). Larry was born in 1941 in Lawrence Park, Jamaica, in the gardens of St. Ann, which also produced Bob Marley and Burning Spear. He spent his final days in Miami, where he lived and worked in construction. Unfortunately he could not sustain himself from his own music and once said that the fruits of his greatest successes were harvested by other people and not by him, a reality that is quite common on the Island of Reggae. He was also known for being a cousin of Aston and Carlton Barrett, musicians who accompanied the Wailers Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.

IN MEMORIAM

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