Gregory Isaacs was easily one of the reggae genre’s Top Five vocalists all-time. His smooth tones were capable of mastering material that was explicitly political as well as explicitly personal-much like Motown legend Marvin Gaye. Which is why it makes sense that Isaacs’ most popular song on American shores was the 1982 classic “Night Nurse”, a song that bears more than a passing resemblance to Gaye’s comeback smash “Sexual Healing”. Since it’s release, it’s been covered by a sea of artists ranging from Simply Red to Sinead O’ Connor.
Isaacs passed away this morning after a battle with cancer, so let’s take a second to enjoy the man’s music and salute him as one of the artists who helped bring the music of the islands to the masses. Respect!