Lee 'Scratch' Perry ADD

RIP - Lee Scratch Perry is Dead

08/29/2021 by Reggaeville

Sad news reached us today. Legendary Lee Scratch Perry  - Rainford Hugh Perry OD - passed away this morning (August 29, 2021) in a hospital in Jamaica. 

Jamaica's prime minister Andrew Holmes posted on Facebook: 
"My deep condolences to the family, friends, and fans of legendary record producer and singer, Rainford Hugh Perry OD, affectionately known as Lee Scratch Perry. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s’ development of dub music with his early adoption of studio effects to create new instrumentals of existing reggae tracks. He has worked with and produced for various artistes, including Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Congos, Adrian Sherwood, the Beastie Boys, and many others. Undoubtedly, Lee Scratch Perry will always be remembered for his sterling contribution to the music fraternity. May his soul Rest In Peace."

MAD PROFESSOR: 
"The end of an era! We first worked in the early eighties, recording several tracks and doing severe tours, having many laughs, sharing many dreams…we spoke together with his wife a week ago…
What a character! Totally ageless! Extremely creative, with a memory as sharp as a tape machine! A brain as accurate as a computer! We travelled the world together…Japan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, All over the USA and Canada…and many more places. Never a dull moment! All the Bob Marley stories…all the Coxone Dodd stories!! And many more…A clear understanding of the music and reggae industry…He guided me through the complicated reggae landscape, taught me how to balance a track to create hits… he knew it…I am happy to have learnt from him..
Sometimes he is the father, other times the son, sometimes, he is the advisor, other times he is seeing advise! I am missing him already, but happy to have known him. We have released about 20 album releases, and have another 20 albums waiting to be released…the end of an era!"

XANA ROMEO:
"Today has to be one of the saddest day in the Music Industry, as Lee Scratch Perry transcend. Unbelievable."

DANIEL BOYLE (Producer):
"I can’t believe this. Lee Scratch Perry has left us. 8 years ago he took the time to come to my studio in London, and chose to help me with my music, and ultimately my career. We worked together over the last 8 years. x6 albums we produced together and countless songs. Including our greatest project yet that we had only just finished recording and he was fit and well!! 
This is so sudden, but Lee lived life to the absolute maximum, a complete life of experience and fullness until the grand age of 85. He changed the face of music as we know it, he was responsible for so much it isn’t even possible to put it into words that wouldn’t become an entire book! He started as my hero, became my collaborator, then my mentor. But most importantly, he was my friend.  Rest In Well in the stars Lee Scratch Perry….. "

JAHCOUSTIX:
"One of the greatest and most influencial Reggae Icons has passed. I had the great privelidge to tour with him and Culture back in 2005. I remember the tour like it was yesterday and i perceived him as a very friendly and humble person. Thank you for the music and rest in peace."

SHAGGY:
"R.I.P. to one of the greats of our culture #leescratchperry such genius!!! You have left us a legacy of great music for the world to enjoy generations to come! Rest well king!"

JOHN MASOURI:
"In all my decades of writing about reggae and dancehall music I've never met anyone like Lee "Scratch" Perry, but then neither has anyone else. In the post Black Ark years his career became less defined by music, and more by his work as a visual and performance artist - aspects of his remarkable life that he imbued with the same crazed originality as those early, groundbreaking recordings of the sixties and seventies. Interviewing him was always a memorable experience, and one that yielded many truths, despite all the play acting. He was the ultimate trickster; Jamaica's greatest shaman and I shall always treasure my encounters with him. My sincere condolences go out to Lee's family and friends, and especially his wife Mireille, who was so often by his side during our meetings."

IN THE NEWS: 
LEE SCRATCH PERRY IS DEAD [Jamaica Obsverver - 8/29/2021]
"The eccentric artiste/producer died in the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea on Sunday morning. He was 85."

LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY, VISIONARY MASTER OF REGGAE, DIES AGED 85 [The Guardian - 8/29/2021]
"Producer and performer who worked with Bob Marley and pioneered both dub and roots reggae styles dies in hospital in Jamaica"

MAX ROMEO REMEMBERS LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY: ‘A GENIUS IN THE TRUEST SENSE OF THE WORD’
“This morning, when I heard — I hadn’t cried in about 16 years, since my best friend passed on — that Lee died, I found out that I still had tears left,” War Ina Babylon singer says." [Rolling Stone - 8/29/2021]

LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY: HOW THE LATE PRODUCER CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF MUSIC [Billboard - 8/30/2021]
"From his inventive use of sampling on an early reggae single to the tough, hypnotic roots sound he brought to The Wailers' music to his groundbreaking sonic experimentation as a creator of dub, Lee "Scratch" Perry, who died at 85 on Sunday (Aug. 29), brought numerous innovations to Jamaica's music that continue to impact production and recording techniques in multiple genres far beyond the island's shores."