Past-president of the Cayman Music and Entertainment Association, Jean Eric ‘Mr. Notch’ Smith, has paid tribute to Peter ‘Peetah’ Morgan, the lead singer of Grammy-award-winning reggae band Morgan Heritage, who passed away at age 46 on Sunday, 25 Feb.
A statement from his family was shared across the Morgan Heritage social media platforms. “It is out of sincere love that we share that our beloved husband, father, son, and brother and lead singer of Morgan Heritage, Peter Anthony Morgan has ascended February 25th, 2024. Jah come and save us from ourselves because love is the only way.”
The statement continued, “Our family thanks you in advance for your overwhelming love and support, and we ask for your continued prayers as we go through this process. We also ask that you please respect our privacy during this time of healing. Thank you! – The Morgan family.”
Smith told the Compass it’s an “immeasurable loss”.
“Peter was a gentle soul, devout Rastafarian, uncharacteristically shy for a lead singer of a Grammy-winning reggae band,” he said. “His almost introverted and unassuming personality could easily be mistaken for a lack of focus on the matter at hand but to the contrary and quite the opposite Peter was always ahead of the conversation, just waiting for you to catch up.”
Smith added, “Reggae music, the leading international genre of the Caribbean, has lost one of its most distinctive and profound voices. Peter was loved by fans all over the world and the Cayman Islands were no exception. His swan song performance last [in Cayman] on May 12th, 2023 at the Lovers Rock show in Safehaven did not disappoint.”
Morgan also performed during the Mission in Progress concert in Grand Cayman in 2008.
Fans of Morgan Heritage to social media this week to express their shock and sadness; the messages included “rest in power,” “heartbroken,” “without a doubt one of the greatest voices ever across all genres. Incredibly saddening news” and “What a sad day and a great loss for the Jamaican reggae music industry”.
The son of well-known Jamaican reggae singer, Denroy Morgan, Peter Morgan, along with his four siblings, formed Morgan Heritage in 1994. The group won a Grammy award for best reggae album in 2016 for ‘Strictly Roots’.
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