Jamaican Icon, Bunny Wailer, last surviving member of reggae group The Wailers, dead at 73.
Bunny Wailer passed away on March 2, 2021. Born Neville Livingston in 1947. Bunny spent his earliest years in the village of Nine Mile in St. Ann Parish.
It was there that he first met Bob Marley, and the two became friends. They both shared similar backgrounds, both raised by single parents, Bunny brought up by his father, Bob by his mother.
This interview with Empress Golding, seven years ago takes on a journey of a great Jamaican icon and musician.
Wailer’s music had dancehall and rockers influences, best exemplified by the album Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers in which he reinterprets some of the Wailers material as a solo roots singer with Sly and Robbie roots reggae-based backing.
The album, produced by Bunny Wailer, was recorded at Harry J Studio. Some of these tracks are reworked classic Wailers tracks such as “Dreamland” (a cover of El Tempos’ “My Dream Island” with slightly reworked lyrics that became Bunny’s signature song. This was recorded in 1966 by Clement Coxsone Dodd, and in 1970 with Lee “Scratch” Perry; it was released as a 7″ in 1971 with a U-Roy version on the B-side).
Another classic is “Dancing Shoes”, first recorded in the mid-1960s as a driving ska/soul classic with Bunny Wailer on lead vocals.
Bunny Wailer had a special connection to his audience and his ability to bring out the best in those who in collaborated with is unique.
Here is Soul Rebel featuring Bunny Wailer and Manu Chao | Song Around The World | Playing For Change
In 1963, Bunny Wailer formed “The Wailing Wailers” with Marley and friend Peter Tosh, and the short-term members Junior Braithwaite and Beverley Kelso.
The catalog of songs produced by the Wailers provides a rich history of deep Jamaican Reggae music.
Stir It Up is an unforgettable song that still captures the hearts of Reggae lovers across the globe.
