Stranger Cole, the Jamaican singer who was a big part of the ska and rocksteady boom in the '60s, has passed away. Jamaica Observer reports that Cole died at Kingston's University Hospital Of The West Indies on Thursday. Cole's son Wilburn "Squiddly" Cole says that his father was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago after a long illness, but he didn't reveal the cause of Cole's death. Cole was 83.
Wilburn Theodore Cole grew up in Kingston, and he the legend is that he got the nickname "Stranger" because he doesn't physically resemble the other members of his family. After writing songs for other artists, Cole made his recording debut in 1962, around the age of 20. Cole recorded for famed producer Arthur "Duke" Reid, and his early single "Rough And Tough" was a hit in Jamaica. Another of Cole's Reid-produced 1962 singles, "Bangarang," is sometimes credited with being the first full-on reggae song.
Cole went on recording for Reid for several years, often singing duets with Patsy Todd and Ken Boothe. He also continued to write and produce for other artists. Eventually, Cole broke away from Reid and recorded with producers like Lee "Scratch" Perry, Bunny "Striker" Lee, and Sonia Pottinger. Cole moved to London in the early '70s, then settled in Toronto, where he continued to release music independently while working as a Tonka factory machinist and opening his own record store. Last December, Cole played some shows in Australia, where he reportedly had a following.
Check out some of Cole's work below.
