A special three-hour tribute celebrating the music of reggae legend Bunny Wailer, who passed away March 2 at the age of 73, was featured on the March 7 edition of Strictly Roots.
Born Neville O’Riley Livingston in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1947, there’s no underestimating the range and legacy of Wailer’s musical career as a percussionist, backing vocalist and later as a songwriter, lead singer and label boss.
Wailer played alongside his step brother Bob Marley and their childhood friend Peter Tosh as part of the group that went by a number of names: The Teenagers, the Wailing Rudeboys, the Wailing Wailers and, ultimately, the Wailers. Their first No. 1 single, “Simmer Down,” was produced by the legendary Clement “Coxsone” Dodd and featured the premier ska band The Skatalites providing support.
The Wailers also worked extensively with producers Leslie Kong and later Lee “Scratch” Perry and his crack studio band, The Upsetters. Their initial chart topper would be followed by such famed tracks as “Stir It Up,” “Get Up Stand Up,” “Trenchtown Rock” and “War” amongst others.
The band would gain international recognition — especially in England — as they toured the world, often playing sold out stadiums, but after 12 years, relationships fragmented and Tosh and Wailer would leave the band.
Striking out on his own, Wailer founded Solomonic, his own recording label on which he would release work over the next three decades. He drew rave reviews for his debut solo release Blackheart Man in 1976. He was backed by some of the premier studio players of that time, including members of the Wailers such as multi-instrumentalist Aston “Family Man” Barrett, drummer Carlton “Carly” Barrett and keyboardist Tyrone “Organ D” Downie along with bassist Robbie Shakespeare, guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith and horn man Tommy McCook. Marley and Tosh also contributed guitar and backing vocals.
He would later have hits such as “Cool Runnings” from the 1981 release Rock ‘n’ Groove and “Ballroom Floor” from Rootsman Skanking in 1987.
Wailer won three Grammys in the 1990s for best reggae albums, two of them being tributes to Marley. In 2017, he was awarded Jamaica’s Order of Merit for international distinction in science, literature or the arts.
Commonly referred to as one of the last elder reggae ambassadors, Wailer aligned himself with Rastafarian spirituality throughout his life. His musical accomplishments directly contributed to and promoted the rich culture and evolution of Jamaican music.