BOB MARLEY’s keyboardist WYCLIFFE ‘STEELY’ JOHNSON has died, aged 47.
Johnson, who was also an acclaimed Jamaican reggae producer, passed away at New York’s Brookhaven Memorial Hospital on Tuesday (01Sep09) after suffering a heart attack.
As well as working as part of late legend Marley’s backing band, Johnson helped produce hits for No Doubt and Sean Paul.
He helped pioneer a new era of dancehall music by introducing digital technology into the studio as part of producing duo Steely and Clevie.
In a tribute, Sean Paul says, “He taught Jamaica, the world and me in particular a lot about music, and helped to nurture dancehall music to a genre that kids still enjoy today. May his soul rest in peace, a great soldier of Reggae Music.”