Lee “Scratch” Perry, Reggae Visionary and Legendary Dub Pioneer Dies at 85
Reggae Legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry Dies at 85
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Lee “Scratch” Perry, the Jamaican reggae dub legend and luminary, has died at age 85, the Jamaica Observer reported.
Perry was a patient at Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Jamaica when he passed away earlier today. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed at the moment.
Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s prime minister, tweeted a tribute to the iconic musician after the news of Perry’s death began to circulate.
Holness wrote, “My deep condolences to the family, friends, and fans of legendary record producer and singer, Rainford Hugh Perry OD, affectionately known as ‘Lee Scratch’ Perry.”
My deep condolences to the family, friends, and fans of legendary record producer and singer, Rainford Hugh Perry OD, affectionately known as “Lee Scratch” Perry. pic.twitter.com/Eec2MEd6yC
— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) August 29, 2021
Life & Career
Lee “Scratch” Perry, along with his band the Upsetters, helped spread the music of Jamaica around the world, producing records by groups like the Congos and Bob Marley & The Wailers, and serving as an influence on acts including the Clash and the Beastie Boys.
Perry was born in Kendal, Jamaica in 1936. In the ’50s, Perry began working with Clement Coxsone Dodd, selling records and later working at Dodd’s recording studio, Studio One.
Using the experience he was exposed to at Studio One, he established his own label, Upsetter.
Perry released his debut single, “People Funny Boy” through the label, which highlighted his distinctive and innovative production techniques.
His studio experimentations—which included early uses of sampling and remixing—helped lead to the creation of the dub genre, which he solidified at Black Ark Studios, a new space he erected in his backyard.
After recording a series of successful albums with the Upsetters and countless production credits, Perry’s music was brought to new audiences during the 1980s, when he collaborated on several projects with British producer Adrian Sherwood.
On the occasion of his 80th birthday, Perry told The Guardian, “Music is magic. If you have good music you have good magic. If you have good magic you will be followed by good people.”
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Lee “Scratch” Perry
A notoriously eccentric figure whose storied reputation and colorful personality match the sheer strangeness of much of his recorded output, Lee Perry is unquestionably one of reggae’s most innovative, influential artists.
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