world of reggae is bidding farewell to Junior Byles, the influential Jamaican singer whose thoughtful lyrics and spiritually charged anthems helped define the roots-reggae era. He passed away at Kingston Public Hospital on Thursday at the age of 76, his sister Janet Byles confirmed.
Byles emerged in the 1970s as a defining voice in the Rastafarian-inspired wave of reggae music. Songs like Curly Locks, A Place Called Africa, and Beat Down Babylon reflected both his deep spiritual convictions and his commitment to social justice. His 1974 track Fade Away, produced by Earl “Chinna” Smith, remains a powerful statement against materialism, with its iconic opening line: “He who seeks only vanity and no love for humanity shall fade away.” Decades later, the song continues to inspire with its message of humility and love.
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