John Holt Has Died

Reggae icon passes away in London...

At heart, Jamaican music is about soul.

When Curtis Mayfield's group The Impressions touched down on Jamaican soil in 1967, the move garnered a reaction akin to the opening phase of Beatlemania.

Amongst those affected was John Holt. Already a widely recorded singer, the Jamaican artist was to push rocksteady further and further towards a soulful, gospel vein – but with a Caribbean viewpoint.

Early cuts such as 'Ali Baba' remain evergreen classics, while even his mixed crossover attempt '1000 Volts Of Holt' in 1974 retains a soulful edge.

Ultimately, John Holt would perhaps become best known for this association with other artists. Working as part of The Paragons, the singer leant his voice to 'The Tide Is High', which later became an enormous international hit for Blondie.

Continuing to record and tour until the very end, the Jamaican Observer reports that John Holt passed away in the early hours of yesterday morning (October 19th) in London.

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