Bunny Wailer

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Bob Marley & The Wailers

Neville O'Riley Livingston

Grammy Award winner, he is considered one of the longtime standard-bearers of reggae music. He was also known as Jah B,[2] Bunny O'Riley,[3] and Bunny Livingston.[4]

Early life and family

Wailer was born Neville O'Riley Livingston on 10 April 1947 in Kingston.[5] He spent his earliest years in the village of Nine Mile in Saint Ann Parish. It was there that he first met Bob Marley, and the two young boys befriended each other quickly.[6] The boys both came from single-parent families; Livingston was brought up by his father, Marley by his mother.[7][8] Later, Wailer's father Thaddeus "Thaddy Shut" Livingston lived with Marley's mother Cedella Booker in Trenchtown and had a daughter with her named Pearl Livingston.[8] Peter Tosh had a son, Andrew Tosh, with Wailer's sister Shirley, making Andrew his nephew.[9]

The Wailers

Wailer had originally gone to audition for Leslie Kong at Beverley's Records in 1962, around the same time his step-brother Bob Marley was cutting "Judge Not". Wailer had intended to sing his first composition, "Pass It On", which at the time was more ska-oriented. However, Wailer was late getting out of school and missed his audition.[10] A few months later, in 1963, he formed "The Wailing Wailers" with Marley and friend Peter Tosh, and the short-term members Junior Braithwaite and Beverley Kelso.[11][12] Wailer tended to sing lead vocals less often than Marley and Tosh in the early years, but when Marley left Jamaica in 1966 for Delaware in the US, and was briefly replaced by Constantine "Vision" Walker, Wailer began to record and sing lead vocals on some of his own compositions, such as "Who Feels It Knows It", "I Stand Predominant", and "Sunday Morning".[13] Wailer's style of music was influenced by gospel music and the soul singer Curtis Mayfield.[14][15] In 1967, he recorded "This Train", based on a gospel standard, for the first time, at Studio One.[16][17]

Wailer was arrested on charges of possession of cannabis in June 1967 and served a 14-month prison sentence.[18] Around this time he, Bob Marley, and Peter Tosh signed an exclusive recording agreement with Danny Sim's JAD Records[19] and an exclusive publishing agreement with Sim's music publishing company Cayman Music.[20]

As the Wailers regularly changed producers in the late 1960s, Wailer continued to contribute songs to the group's repertoire. The music critic Kwame Dawes says that Wailer's song lyrics were carefully crafted and literary in style, and he remained a key part of the group's distinctive harmonies.[21][22] Wailer sang lead on such songs as "Dreamland"[14] (a cover of El Tempos' "My Dream Island",[5] which soon became his signature song[23]) "Riding High", "Brainwashing",[14] and in the bridge of the Wailers' song, "Keep On Moving" (sung in the style of Curtis Mayfield of the Impressions), produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry.[24] In 1971, the Wailers recorded Bunny Wailer's song "Pass It On", which he said he wrote in 1962;[10] it was released as a dubplate mix on JAD's "Original Cuts" compilation.[25] This version of the song features different lyrics and music in the verses to the later versions of "Pass It On" – Wailer would later reuse these in "Innocent Blood". By 1973, each of the three founding Wailers operated his own label, Marley with Tuff Gong,[26] Tosh with H.I.M. Intel Diplo,[27] and Bunny Wailer with Solomonic.[28] He sang lead vocals on "Reincarnated Souls", the B-side of the Wailers first Island single of the new era, and on two tracks on the Wailers last trio LP, "Burnin'": "Pass it On" and "Hallelujah Time". By now he was recording singles in his own right, cutting "Searching For Love", "Life Line", "Trod On", "Arab Oil Weapon", and "Pass It On" (a new recording of the Wailers song) for his own label.[29]

Bunny Wailer toured with the Wailers in England and the United States, but soon became reluctant to leave Jamaica. He and Tosh were more marginalised in the group as the Wailers attained international success, and attention was increasingly focused on Marley. Wailer subsequently left the Wailers in 1973

roots style, in keeping with his often political and spiritual messages; his album Blackheart Man was well received.[31] According to the journalist Peter Mason, writing in the Guardian newspaper, Blackheart Man "is widely felt to be one of reggae’s highest peaks".[34]

Solo career

Bunny Wailer at Smile Jamaica, 2008

After leaving the Wailers, Wailer experimented with disco on his album Hook Line & Sinker,[35] while Sings the Wailers reworks many of The Wailers songs with the backing of Jamaican session musicians, Sly and Robbie.[36] He also had success recording in the typically apolitical, more pop, dancehall style.[37]

Wailer's music had dancehall and

Clement Coxsone Dodd, and in 1972 with Lee "Scratch" Perry; it was released as a 7" in 1971 with a U-Roy version on the B-side.[41] Another classic is "Dancing Shoes", first recorded in the mid-1960s as a driving ska/soul classic with Bunny Wailer on lead vocals.[42]

Wailer won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album three times; in 1991 for the album Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley, in 1995 for Crucial! Roots Classics, and in 1997 for Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley's 50th Anniversary.[43] He was also featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including; Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Gwen Stefani / No Doubt, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Manu Chao, The Roots, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards, Toots Hibbert, Paul Douglas, Jackie Jackson, Ken Boothe, and The Skatalites.[44] Wailer's catalogue is now under the curation of his agent Simon Vumbaca.[45]

In August 2012, it was announced that Bunny Wailer would receive Jamaica's fifth highest honour, the Order of Jamaica.[46]

In 2016, he played a month-long 'Blackheart Man' tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his 1976 album.[47]

In October 2017, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the Jamaican government, the nation's fourth-highest honour.[48]

In October 2019, a commemorative

Burnin' were completed.[49]

In November 2019, Wailer received a Pinnacle Award in New York from the Coalition to Preserve Reggae.[50]

Health and death

In October 2018, Wailer suffered a minor stroke, resulting in speech problems.[51] After suffering another stroke in July 2020, he was hospitalized at Andrews Memorial Hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, where he eventually died on 2 March 2021 at the age of 73,[1][52][53] of complications from the stroke he suffered the previous year.[54]

Solo discography

Albums

Compilations

  • Crucial! Roots Classics (1994) RAS[60]
  • Retrospective (1995) Solomonic/Shanachie[65]
  • Dubd'sco Volumes 1 & 2 (1998) RAS[29]
  • Bob Marley & The Wailers Vol 2: Bunny Wailer & Johnny Lover (2002) Saludos Amigos (with Johnny Lover)[66]
  • Winning Combinations: Bunny Wailer & Dennis Brown (2002) Universal Special Products (with Dennis Brown)[67]
  • The Wailers Legacy (2006) Solomonic (Bunny Wailer & The Wailers)[68]
  • Tuff Gong/Island Singles 1: Tread Along: 1969–1976 (2016) Dub Store Records/Tuff Gong/Island[67]
  • Solomonic Singles 2: Rise and Shine: 1977–1986 (2016) Dub Store Records/Solomonic[67]

DVDs

  • Live (2005) Video Music, Inc.[67]

Appearances on DVD compilations

  • A Reggae Session (1988) Sony BMG, features "Roots, Radics, Rockers and Reggae" and "Rise and Shine"[69]

Discography overview

References

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  2. ^ Walters, Basil (23 August 2010). "Bunny Wailer chants support for Rasta Millennium Council". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
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  5. ^ a b Romano, Nick (2 March 2021). "Reggae legend Bunny Wailer of the Wailers dies at 73". Entertainment Weekly.
  6. ^ "Bunny Wailer obituary". the Guardian. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  7. ^ Savage, Mark (2 March 2021). "Bunny Wailer: Reggae legend who played with Bob Marley dies, aged 73". BBC News.
  8. ^ a b Bonitto, Brian (24 April 2018). "Home Again". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  9. ^ Werman, Marco (6 May 2016). "A night of real reggae with Bunny, the last Wailer standing". The World from PRX.
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  16. ^ Joseph, Adam (7 April 2016). "One of reggae's greatest celebrates 40th anniversary in Salinas". Monterey County Weekly.
  17. ^ Katz, David. "The Mojo interview: Bunny Wailer". Mojo. No. 191, October 2009. pp. 38–42.
  18. ^ Singing the jailhouse rock Archived 3 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Jamaica Observer, Published 25 November 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012
  19. ^ Ali, Rasha (2 March 2021). "Legendary reggae artist Bunny Wailer, last living founder of Bob Marley and the Wailers, dies at 73". USA Today.
  20. ^ Eames, Tom (7 October 2020). "The Story of... 'I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash". Smooth Radio.
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  22. ^ Sisario, Ben (2 March 2021). "Bunny Wailer, Reggae Pioneer With the Wailers, Dies at 73". The New York Times.
  23. .
  24. . 'Keep On Moving' was a full re-working of the Impressions' 'I've Got To Keep On Moving' that the group had taken a stab at with Perry at Studio One, and featured Bunny's shrill imitation of Curtis Mayfield in the bridge.
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  30. ^ Pareles, Jon (16 December 1997). "Dance Fever No Matter the Message". The New York Times.
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  33. ^ Bunny quoted directly in the documentary, Marley
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  38. ^ Rob Kenner (1995). "Boom Shots". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. p. 114.
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  44. ^ "Linear CD Notes". Tootsandthemaytals.net. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  45. ^ Davidson, Vernon (30 September 2015). "Bunny Wailer thrown out of museum". Observer. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  46. ^ Bonitto, Brian (2012) "Tosh gets OM", Jamaica Observer, 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012
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  48. ^ Johnson, Richard (2017) "With Distinction: Arts, entertainment fraternity members honoured at King's House Archived 3 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 17 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017
  49. ^ Motune, Vic (27 September 2019). "Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer to receive Blue Plaque honour". Voice Online. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  50. ^ Campbell, Howard (2019) "Bunny Wailer gets Pinnacle honour Archived 3 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine", Jamaica Observer, 6 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019
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  52. ^ Bonitto, Brian (2 March 2021). "Bunny Wailer is dead". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  53. ^ Savage, Mark (2 March 2021). "Bunny Wailer: Reggae legend who found fame with Bob Marley dies, aged 73". BBC News. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  54. ^ "Bunny Wailer, reggae luminary and founder of The Wailers, has died at 73". www.cbsnews.com. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  55. ^ Cooke, Mel (15 June 2009). "Bunny Wailer's 'Blackheart Man' remastered". Daily Gleaner. Gleaner Company. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  56. . Retrieved 21 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  57. ^ a b DeRiso, Nick (2 March 2021). "Reggae Legend Bunny Wailer Dies at 73". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  58. ^ a b c d Vibes, Mr T. at Reggae (3 March 2021). "Bunny Wailer - The Blackheart Man (1947-2021)".
  59. ^ Retrospective (CD booklet). Bunny Wailer. RAS Records. 2003. p. 2. 06076-89600-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  60. ^ a b c Bonitto, Brian (22 January 2014) "Bunny Wailer Turns Up Treble", Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  61. ^ "Junior Braithwaite". the Guardian. 23 June 1999.
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  63. ^ "Bob Marley And The Wailers - Discography Simplified : 2009". voiceofthesufferers.free.fr.
  64. ^ "BUNNY WAILER & WAILING SOULS - DUB FI DUB - 2018". 10 September 2018.
  65. ^ Kenner, Rob (July 1995). "Boom Shots". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. p. 114.[permanent dead link]
  66. ^ "Bob Marley And The Wailers , Guests Bunny Wailer & Johnny Lover - Bob Marley & The Wailers Vol. 2 Album". Favorite Music Albums - opencloudpa.it. OpenCloud PA. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  67. ^ a b c d "Bunny Wailer – Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
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  69. ^ "Bunny Wailer – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
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External links