The music fraternity lost an icon on March 2, 2021 with the passing of Neville “Bunny Wailer” Livingston. The iconic singer-songwriter and percussionist was the last living member of the legendary reggae group, The Wailers, which also included reggae icons Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Bunny Wailer was regarded as one of the standard bearers of reggae music and a pioneer in promoting Jamaican music globally.
The Original Wailers (L-R : Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley & Peter Tosh) Source: BBC
The baritone singer formed the Wailers in 1963 and after releasing many hit singles in Jamaica; they gained international success with the release of the album “Catch a Fire”. The group’s success also shed a positive light on the Rastafarian culture in Jamaica throughout the 70s.
He was an avid countryman, sharing with The Associated Press in a 1989 interview his affinity for the country. ″I think I love the country actually a little bit more than the city. It has more to do with life, health and strength. The city takes that away sometimes. The country is good for meditation. It has fresh food and fresh atmosphere – that keeps you going,” said Wailer.
″I think I love the country actually a little bit more than the city. It has more to do with life, health and strength. The city takes that away sometimes. The country is good for meditation. It has fresh food and fresh atmosphere – that keeps you going,”
In addition to his music, he was committed to the fight for equal rights and justice for all and had an unwavering passion for people of Jamaican and African descent.
Described as the original blackheart man, many remember him as the aggressive warrior who always fought for what was right, not only in music but also in social development. Since his death, many musicians and other prominent cultural figures have paid their respects and shared their thoughts on reflection of the massive imprint he has left in music and cultural history.
He enjoyed a successful musical career over the years, released many bodies of work, and collaborated with many well-known musicians. Unearthing his gift from the core of his soulful Rastafari heart, his listeners were gripped by his brilliant vocal skills, deeply intricate melodic intelligence, sense of harmony, and how he felt rhythm. His brilliant employ of music in pursuit of social, political, and cultural uplift were hallmarks of the message he delivered. His wry commentary signified and challenged the collective absurdities of 20th-century hegemonic philosophical concepts.
His impressive repertoire of music resulted in the Reggae Icon winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album on three occasions; first in 1991 for the album Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley, then again in 1995 for Crucial! Roots Classics, and finally in 1997 for Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary.
He was widely successful and genuinely loved. Though he may no longer be with us, the legacy he leaves behind is timeless and will forever reverberate through the life of reggae music in Jamaica and across the world. For his contributions, Wailer was awarded Jamaica’s fourth highest honour, the Order of Merit in 2017.
The passing of Bunny Wailer truly represents the end of a crucial era in Jamaica’s modern musical experience.
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The music fraternity lost an icon on March 2, 2021 with the passing of Neville “Bunny Wailer” Livingston. The iconic singer-songwriter and percussionist was the last living member of the legendary reggae group, The Wailers, which also included reggae icons Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Bunny Wailer was regarded as one of the standard bearers of reggae music and a pioneer in promoting Jamaican music globally.
The baritone singer formed the Wailers in 1963 and after releasing many hit singles in Jamaica; they gained international success with the release of the album “Catch a Fire”. The group’s success also shed a positive light on the Rastafarian culture in Jamaica throughout the 70s.
He was an avid countryman, sharing with The Associated Press in a 1989 interview his affinity for the country. ″I think I love the country actually a little bit more than the city. It has more to do with life, health and strength. The city takes that away sometimes. The country is good for meditation. It has fresh food and fresh atmosphere – that keeps you going,” said Wailer.
In addition to his music, he was committed to the fight for equal rights and justice for all and had an unwavering passion for people of Jamaican and African descent.
Described as the original blackheart man, many remember him as the aggressive warrior who always fought for what was right, not only in music but also in social development. Since his death, many musicians and other prominent cultural figures have paid their respects and shared their thoughts on reflection of the massive imprint he has left in music and cultural history.
He enjoyed a successful musical career over the years, released many bodies of work, and collaborated with many well-known musicians. Unearthing his gift from the core of his soulful Rastafari heart, his listeners were gripped by his brilliant vocal skills, deeply intricate melodic intelligence, sense of harmony, and how he felt rhythm. His brilliant employ of music in pursuit of social, political, and cultural uplift were hallmarks of the message he delivered. His wry commentary signified and challenged the collective absurdities of 20th-century hegemonic philosophical concepts.
His impressive repertoire of music resulted in the Reggae Icon winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album on three occasions; first in 1991 for the album Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley, then again in 1995 for Crucial! Roots Classics, and finally in 1997 for Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary.
He was widely successful and genuinely loved. Though he may no longer be with us, the legacy he leaves behind is timeless and will forever reverberate through the life of reggae music in Jamaica and across the world. For his contributions, Wailer was awarded Jamaica’s fourth highest honour, the Order of Merit in 2017.
The passing of Bunny Wailer truly represents the end of a crucial era in Jamaica’s modern musical experience.
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