I grew up with Gregory Isaacs’s music. Reggae legend, the Cool Ruler, the Lonely Lover. During the 70’s, I remember Dad and Mom listening to reggae music and know that one of these was Gregory Isaacs’. Love is Overdue was one song I know that Gregory Isaacs was famous for.

 

But I never knew and sing to Gregory Isaacs’s music until his hit Night Nurse in the 80’s and when Simply Red did a cover on the same hit. I never heard of Gregory Isaacs again until his untimely death. Gregory Isaacs was diagnosed with lung cancer and has been battling with it for a long time.

 

Gregory Isaacs travelled to Jamaica just this summer for a performance. He came back to his London home shortly after his last event in August and died in his home Monday. Gregory Isaacs was such a loss to the music industry as he was well loved by all, family and fans alike.

 

Like a true blue star, Gregory Isaacs was also involved in some scandal himself. Popularity on the upswing, Gregory Isaacs got involved with drugs at the height of his career in 1982, affecting his voice, rotting his teeth off. He was arrested 27 times for possession of fire arms, he also became a drug dealer and a cocaine addict.

 

But in due time he left his drug driven life. Gregory Isaacs released in 2008 his would be last album Brand New Me. How he was able to climb out of the mess he was in and even make an album is beyond me. But Brand New Me was very fitting for a come back. It is just so sad that he didn’t stay on as long as we would want him to.

 

His career as singer-songwriter started in 1968. Gregory Isaacs released so many songs, counting over 500. He continued to perform in 2000.

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