We just received confirmation that Gregory Isaacs, one of the biggest post-Marley reggae stars, passed away today in London at 59 (previous reports said he was 60).

Isaacs began his career in different groups in the late '60s, but success came in 1973 when he went solo and started singing romantic reggae material, known as “Lovers Rock.” Isaacs developed a cool persona as a lothario that carried him to the present and gave him massive hits like “Night Nurse.”

The singer, known as “The Cool Ruler” after another one of his albums, also released very well-respected dub records of his more mainstream material that are revered by connoisseurs of the instrumental genre.

According to reports, he died of cancer in his London home.

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