Neville Livingston Aka Bunny Wailer the once only survivor of The Three Wailers Is dead at 73

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

Jah-B as his friends and fans call him, was a very charismatic individual who spoke quietly and precisely with the skill of a diplomat yet took no prisoners in his songs and was loved by millions for that.

Reggae fans woke up on Tuesday March 2^nd, 2021 to the sad news that Neville Livingston the great Bunny Wailer had passed away after been ill for some time.

According to his manager Maxine Stowe, Wailer died about 8:00 am in the morning. He had been in and out of hospital since suffering a second stroke in July of 2020.

The three-time Grammy Award winner, singer, percussionist and devoted Rastafarian, known for reggae classics like “Dreamland” and “Baldhead Jesus” was Reggae royalty with a capital “R.”

Wailer was one of the original three-groundation members that made up the group “The Wailers” which included Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Marley died of cancer on May 11^th, 1981, while Tosh was killed at his St Andrew home on September 11^th, 1987.

In 2017, Bunny Wailer was awarded an Order of Merit, which is the country’s fourth highest honour. The Government once again recognized his contribution to his country’s music in February 2019 with a Reggae Gold Award.

Here is a list of Wailer’s albums with original material.

* ”Blackheart Man” (1976) Solomonic

* ”Protest” (1977) Island/Solomonic

* ”Struggle” (1978) Solomonic

* ”Dubd’sco vol.1” (1978) Solomonic

* ”In I Father’s House” (1979) Solomonic

* ”Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers” (1980) Island/Solomonic

* ”Dubd’sco vol.2” (1981) Solomonic

* ”Rock ‘n’ Groove” (1981) Solomonic

* ”Tribute” (1981) Solomonic

* ”Hook Line & Sinker” (1982) Solomonic

* ”Roots Radics Rockers Reggae” (1983) []

* ”Live!” (1983) Solomonic

* ”Marketplace” (1985) Solomonic

* ”Rootsman Skanking” (1987) Shanachie (international re-release of ”Rock And Groove” edited version plus 3 extra tracks)

* ”Rule Dance Hall” (1987) Shanachie

* ”Liberation” (1989) Shanachie

* ”Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley” (1990) Shanachie (international re-release of ”Tribute” + 2 extra tracks)

* ”Gumption” (1990) Shanachie

* ”The Never Ending Wailers” (1991)

* ”Dance Massive” (1992)

* ”Just Be Nice” (1993) []

* ”Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary” (1996) RAS

* ”Communication” (2000) Solomonic/Tuff Gong

* ”World Peace” (2003) Solomonic

* ”Rub A Dub” (2007) Solomonic

* ”Cross Culture” (2009) Solomonic

* ”Combinations Vol.1” (2009) Solomonic

* ”Blackheart Man (Remastered & Extended)” (2009) Solomonic

* ”Reincarnated Souls” (2013), VP – 3CD + 2DVD set

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has expressed his sadness at the passing of Jah-B. Holness said the Wailer has made a tremendous impact on the world.

Holness added that Wailer’s legendary performances touched the hearts and souls of millions of fans in Jamaica and across the world, and that many generations are privileged to have been exposed to his conscious music.

Bunny Wailer will be missed by his: family, friends and millions of fans worldwide.

Fly away home Jah-B.