Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

John Holt death: Pioneering Paragones singer, famed for writing 'The Tide Is High', dies at 69

'John died at 2.40am English time. [John's] nephew informed of his death,' his manager, Copeland Forbes, told the Jamaica Observer

Jenn Selby
Monday 20 October 2014 16:37 BST
Comments

John Holt, the former lead singer of The Paragons and a pioneering reggae solo artist, has died at the age of 69.

The musician, famed for singing the original version of "The Tide Is High" in 1967, which was later covered by Blondie and Gregory Isaacs, passed away yesterday morning in a hospital in London.

"John died at 2.40am English time. [John's] nephew informed of his death," his manager, Copeland Forbes, told the Jamaica Observer.

His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Holt was born 11 July 1947 in the Greenwich Farm area of Jamaica.

He joined The Paragons in 1964 in Kingston, Jamaica, replacing original frontman Leroy Stamp, after making a name for himself on the talent show circuit.

He released his first album with The Paragons, On The Beach, in 1967. After With Roselyn Sweat in 1974, they parted ways only to reform in the late Seventies and Eighties.

Holt also enjoyed a solo career from 1968, recording with famed producers Bunny Lee and Harry J.

He released his last solo album, Peacemaker, in 1993.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in