Max Romeo Has Died; Cause Of Death – clashmusic.com

Jamaican music legend Max Romeo has died, it has been confirmed.
The singer was 80 years old, and passed away in hospital yesterday (April 11th). It is believed Max Romeo succumbed to heart complications at a private medical facility in St. Andrew, Jamaica.
“The family is devastated right now,” Romeo’s daughter Azana Smith told DancehallMag on Friday. “My father Maxie Smith is not in this dimension anymore, he is not here for me to speak with but he lives on. The family is mourning and asking for privacy at this time.”
Max Romeo’s career began back in 1965, as a key member of The Emotions, a group that included Lloyd Shakespeare, the elder brother of reggae icon Robbie Shakespeare.
Part of the emerging reggae sound, Max Romeo struck gold in 1968 with the huge UK hit single ‘Wet Dream’. It’s essentially as the title describes – an ode to ejaculations in the night, the barely veiled double entendres back a chart smash.
Adored by the UK’s skinhead movement, Max Romeo played numerous tours across the country, with follow-up singles continuing this playfully filthy trend.
—
—
The 70s brought a move to conscious reggae, with Max Romeo’s political edge matched to spiritual desires.
His 1976 song ‘Chase The Devil’ is an iconic moment in Jamaican music history – much-sampled, it forms the basis of tracks by Jay-Z, Kanye West, and The Prodigy. Max Romeo insisted, however, that he never received royalties for the song.
Travelling, working, and writing almost to the end, Max Romeo leaves a substantial legacy within Jamaican music. Rest in power.

Join us on WeAre8, as we get under the skin of global cultural happenings. Follow Clash Magazine HERE as we skip merrily between clubs, concerts, interviews and photo shoots. Get backstage sneak-peeks and a view into our world as the fun and games unfold.
 

source