In Jamaica where it seems there are as many reggae artists as jerk chicken vendors, the death of a performer usually barely causes a ripple. So it is the measure of how big Gregory Isaacs was that he got a state funeral in Kingston on 20 November where the whole country came to a virtual standstill in honour of the singer.
At a funeral in London last week, the audience broke into a spontaneous medley of some of his greatest songs. An amused vicar said that was not the sort of behaviour he was used to in an Anglican church but under the circumstances he understood their outpouring of love.
The Cool Ruler was matchless as a reggae singer and it was a fitting tribute to a genius full of contradictions. He died of lung cancer a month ago in London aged only 59. Many brushes with the law in his youth led to multiple arrests and a short spell in prison. Vast quantities of hard drugs throughout his career led to teeth falling out, a croaky voice towards the end and an inevitable premature death. But Isaacs had also packed in a lot of living and music. One of the most prolific singer-songwriters of any genre, at least 50 albums were produced in a stellar 40-year career.
Night Nurse was his most acclaimed song, used to promote the cough syrup of the same name, but the list of wonderful ballads is long; Love Is Overdue, Mr Brown, Front Door, Substitute, Soon Forward, Number One, Loving Pauper, Tune In, Rumours, Hush Darling, Stranger In Town…too many to name – and all gems. And the ‘conscious’ songs, with themes of social injustice and suffering deserve equal praise. The Border, Slave Master, Mr Cop are some of the best.
Isaacs cleverly made the theme of rejected lover an art form, which is why his fan base was mostly female and why he was also known as the Lonely Lover. In reality that was furthest from the truth as he had at least 11 children from several relationships. Isaacs is credited with creating the sub-genre Lover’s Rock which was heartily embraced in Britain in the 80s and made international stars of the likes of Carroll Thompson, Winston Reedy and Janet Kay.
His death on 25 October touched many in Cayman, some of whom had seen him perform. Cachas ‘Super C’ Stewart, a deejay on Hot 104.1FM, dedicated his Sunday night show to Isaacs following his death. “I brought Gregory here to perform in the late 90s,” recalls Super C. “He was nice, sociable and down to earth. He gave me a copy of his very first album, Gregory In Person and first single, Another Heartache. It was recorded in 1968 but took a few years to be released and I will treasure them.”
Super C cherishes the three radio plugs Isaacs recorded for him, which because of their friendship, he paid only US$200 for. He rates Isaacs up there with the legends, fourth behind Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Alton Ellis.
Stewart Wilson, lead singer with Cayman band Love Culture, enjoys performing Night Nurse. “Gregory made people realise that you didn’t have to go crazy on stage to really entertain a crowd,” he says. “I saw him as the Frank Sinatra of reggae. He really was the Cool Ruler. Night Nurse is my favourite of his and also Ragamuffin, his collaboration with Dennis Brown.”
Charles Gregory is a local musician and owner of Hopscotch Studios that provides the sound equipment for most visiting performers to Cayman. He knew Isaacs well having worked together many times. “With Gregory it was all about love,” he says. “He had good song writing skills and did so many great songs. I liked his easy going nature. Some artists I worked with wouldn’t mingle and had attitude, but Gregory you could have a conversation with.”
Sports instructor Molly-Ann Moore saw Isaacs perform at Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay around 20 years ago. “He came on stage in the early hours of the morning and woke us all up, it was fantastic,” she remembers. “Like the other legends, his music will never die. My favourites are Night Nurse, Love Overdue and Soon Forward.”
Radio Cayman manager Paulette Conolly-Bailey says: “My favourite songs were Night Nurse and Oh What a Feeling. He had class but was still humble and down to earth and was very cordial to his fans when he visited Cayman. He was a crowd pleaser. I loved the fact that he could take pop songs and sing them in his own smooth reggae style.”
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