Leroy Gibbons (1950 – 2025)
The great Jamaican veteran artist Leroy Gibbons has passed away suddenly on Tuesday, 17th June, at the age of 74. Born September 18th, 1950, Leroy’s musical career began in the mid-80s, rising to prominence as a key member of King Jammy’s pantheon of recording artists, and he was also a regular fixture on King Jammy’s Super Power Soundsystem.
His unique vocal stylings and soulful, romantic lyrics provided the perfect accompaniment to Jammy’s innovative digital Dancehall productions, with songs like “Magic Moment”, “She Is My Baby”, “Samfie Girl” and “Missing You” amongst some of the biggest tunes of the era.
King Jammy expressed his sentiment on hearing the news, “Right now, the news about Leroy Gibbons passing is very sudden. It kinda lick we like a bomb. I just wake up this morning and hear this and it shock me. It will live on for a long while, because we were close. John John just mixed him tune and send it for him fi release. Bless him soul and him family. One love”.
It is a tragic loss for the music and our thoughts are with all his friends and family at this difficult time.