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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

Jah Shaka dies suddenly just days after dub and reggae icon announced new tour date

Soundsystem icon Jah Shaka has died days after announcing his new tour date, it has been announced.

Close friends and collaborators have paid tribute to the producer, singer, and label owner.

The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. He only just revealed a tour date for August 19.

Fellow Jamaican artist Dennis Alcapone paid tribute to the star and wrote on Facebook : "Just getting some sad news that the great Jah Shaka has passed away.

"The Zulu warrior left us. Very sad indeed. More to come on that. May his soul forever rest in perfect peace."

Jah was born in Clarendon in Jamaica and moved to the UK in the early 1950s, settling in southeast London.

Jah Shaka has passed away (Instagram/jahshakamusic)
Jah was born in Clarendon Parish in Jamaica (Instagram/jahshakamusic)

He later joined travelling local sound system Freddie Cloudburst.

The legend was at the helm of sound system culture in London and produced some of the scene's most influential records.

Jah ran his own record label called Jah Shaka Music.

The label released tracks from Max Romeo and Johnny Clark, and many others.

Speaking in a 2014 lecture, he said: "When people left Africa for the Caribbean, all they could bring with them was their music, their songs and their memories from home.

"So, over the years, this is all that people had to keep them together."

The cause of death has not yet been disclosed (Instagram/jahshakamusic)
The legend was at the helm of sound system culture in London (Instagram/jahshakamusic)

He continued: "In the 1950s and 1960s in London, there were house parties – 50, 60 people with only record players. It helped families know other families, which was important at that time because the people were so forced to be segregated."

Jah performed his system up until his death.

After hearing the news, dubstep producer The Bug wrote: "So sad to read Jah Shaka has departed this planet … Rest in peace. A heroic figure who kept Dub alive, when few cared … I spent many all nighters being transfixed by his passion and selections."

Trevor Jackson posted: "RIP Jah Shaka. Had a lot of wild club experiences in my time but nothing could beat stumbling into the Rocket hazy headed & bleary eyed becoming overwhelmed by the power of bass. Formative years, divine sounds, THE master."

Jumpin’ Jack Frost said: "The king of Kings has left us. The greatest soundman that ever lived."

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