Singer Sugar Minott is dead

Roots singer Lincoln ‘Sugar’ Minott, who influenced a new generation of reggae artistes in the 1980s, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies Saturday evening at the age of 54.

Minott’s wife, Maxine Stowe, confirmed his passing yesterday but gave no cause of death. The singer had cancelled shows in Canada in May after reports that he had experienced chest pains.

Minott was best known for roots anthems like Vanity, Mr DC, No Vacancy and
Herbman Hustling. But he was just as adept belting out lovers rock songs
such as Lovers Race and Good Thing Going.

Good Thing Going was originally done in 1972 by the Jackson Five. Minott’s
reggae version entered the British national chart in 1981 and remained his
biggest commercial success.

He was also a prolific producer at his Youthman Promotions company which
recorded countless upcoming acts. Tristan Palmer, Tenor Saw, Little John,
Barry Brown, Yami Bolo, Garnet Silk and Junior Reid all recorded for the
label which Minott started in 1979.

He co-produced Foreign Mind, Reid’s first big hit. Yesterday, Reid
remembered Minott as someone who did ‘great works’.

“Him gi a lotta strength to the

but neva get a lotta love from the
business,” said Reid.

Born in the Maxfield Avenue area of Kingston, Sugar Minott was strongly
inspired by rocksteady singers John Holt and Alton Ellis. He started his
career in the early 1970s as a member of the African Brothers vocal group
but went solo later that decade at the famed Studio One with producer
Clement ‘Coxson’ Dodd.