Bunny Wailer, the last of the Wailers

Musician Bunny Wailer died on March 2 at the age of 73. Bunny Wailer, born Neville Livingston, was one of the founding members of the Wailers, along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

Jamaica's Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia Grange, said Wailer had died in hospital Medical Associates of Kingston after suffering a stroke in July 2020 and spending most of the time since in hospital. No cause of death was mentioned in the statement, which Grange said had been made at the request of Wailer's family.

«We mourn the passing of this exceptional singer, songwriter and percussionist and celebrate his life and many achievements,» said Olivia Grange. «We remain grateful for the role Bunny Wailer played in the development and popularity of reggae music worldwide.»

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness also issued a statement in honor of the Jamaican-born star, who has traveled the world sharing his music.

«Bunny Wailer has had a huge impact on the world, paving the way for a global movement and love for rocksteady and reggae,» the Prime Minister said in a statement. «His legendary performances touched the hearts and souls of millions of fans in Jamaica and around the world.»

Last founding member of the Wailers

Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley founded The Wailing Wailers as teenagers in Kingston's Trench Town district in 1963. The group's name was chosen because «we started out crying», said Marley. to the BBC.

«Peter Tosh was the real activist, then Bob was the poetic revolutionary humanist,» wrote Vivien Goldman in her book The Book of Exodus: The Making and Meaning of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Album of the Century. «Bunny was considered the spiritual mystic.»

The group was later joined by singer Junior Braithwaite and backing singers Beverly Kelso and Cherry Green. The new line-up, henceforth known as the Wailers, recorded numerous hits, including «Simmer Down» in December 1963, a song written by Marley calling for peace in Kingston's slums. It reached number one in Jamaica and was followed by the single «Duppy Conquerer» and the debut album «The Wailing Wailers», released in 1965.

The group had to take a break when Bunny Wailer spent 14 months in prison for cannabis possession, then when Bob Marley married and moved to the USA. After reuniting, the group released their second album «Soul Rebels» in 1970. The group caught the attention of producer Chris Blackwell, who signed them to his Island Records label. The band released the albums «Catch A Fire» and «Burnin» with Island before Bunny Wailer decided to leave the group in 1973, citing conflicts between an international tour schedule and his Rastafarian faith.

A solo career

As a solo artist, Bunny Wailer released dozens of albums over a career that spanned more than four decades. His solo work was characterized by a roots reggae style of music, which reflected his deep devotion to his roots. of a committed Rastafarian. Wailer won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album three times in the 1990s. In 2012, the Jamaican government awarded him the Order of Jamaica, followed in 2017 by the Order of Merit, «the country's highest honor», according to the Prime Minister's statement.

In 1981, Bob Marley died of cancer at the age of 36, followed by Peter Tosh at the age of 46 after being shot in his home in 1987.

Last surviving member of the Wailers, Bunny Wailer declared to the Washington Post in 2006 that he was satisfied with his legacy: «I'm satisfied with getting reggae music to where it is,» he said. «I'm proud to be a part of it.»