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Colvin Scott, the notable reggae musician known to many as Cocoa Tea, has passed away. His wife, Malvia Scott, shared the sad news with Jamaican publication The Gleaner, confirming that he died on Tuesday morning, March 11, at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after suffering cardiac arrest. Cocoa Tea was 65 years old.
Malvia Scott mentioned that her husband had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2019 and had recently faced health challenges due to pneumonia. She expressed pride in his resilient spirit, stating, “He was definitely very brave. He was positive throughout it all.”
Born in the coastal town of Rocky Point in Jamaica’s Clarendon Parish, Colvin George Scott began his music career at the young age of 14, initially recording under the name Calvin Scott. However, he rose to prominence during the 1980s and 1990s by adopting the stage name Cocoa Tea, which remains beloved in reggae music. Some of his earliest hits included the beloved tracks “Rocking Dolly” and “I Lost My Sonia.”
In the 1990s, Cocoa Tea continued to expand his reach with the popular song “Rikers Island,” which caught the attention of audiences and was later remixed into a dancehall version by Nardo Ranks titled “Me No Like Rikers Island.”
In 1997, Cocoa Tea established his own record label, Roaring Lion, after producing numerous singles for well-known labels such as Greensleeves, Jammy’s, and Mr. Doo. Alongside his own works, he also supported many fellow artists, helping to bring the music of Buju Banton, Cutty Ranks, Sizzla, among others, to a wider audience.
One of his standout tracks, “Barack Obama,” was released in March 2008 and quickly gained popularity. The song’s catchy chorus featured the former President’s name repeated emphatically, symbolizing Cocoa Tea’s support for Obama’s campaign.
In a subsequent interview, Cocoa Tea described Obama as “the exception to all politicians all over the world,” expressing a desire for significant changes that would address global challenges like climate change and rising food costs. He articulated a belief that the decisions made in Washington, D.C., hold ramifications that extend well beyond U.S. borders.
Source
pitchfork.com