April 10, 1947 – March 2, 2021
Neville O’Riley Livingston OM OJ, was honoured by the Jamaican government with the Order of Merit and the Order of Jamaica.
He was known professionally as Bunny Wailer, who was a singer-songwriter and percussionist. Bunny spent much of his early years in Nine Miles, St. Ann, and that where the union started with Bob Marley, and later with Peter Tosh. Little did they know the trio would become world famous, as The Wailers. To say the group had International success would be putting it lightly. After much water under the bridge, the three separated and each of them had hugely successful solo careers.
Bunny Wailer was a three time winner of the Grammy Award for best album–in 1991 for the album Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley, in 1995 for Crucial! Roots Classics, and in 1997 for Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary.
He saluted Bob with his music because indeed they were family. Bunny, who was also known as Jah B, was considered one of the long-time standard bearers of Reggae music. His history is tremendous, and that is why the Jamaican government bestowed on him the 5th and then the 4th highest honour that could be received by an individual.
He has been awarded in New York and in London and has worked with a Who’s who list of top entertainers worldwide. His impact on Reggae has been massive, and he left us with numerous Reggae anthems and classics.
Hits include:
- “Blackheart Man”
- “Rock and Groove”
- “Rootsman Skankin”
- “Liberation”
- “Dance Massive”
- “Rule Dance Hall”
- “Gumption”
- “Time will Tell”
- …and countless other songs.