Bunny Wailer, last surviving founder member of the Wailers, dies aged 73
Reggae artist and three-time Grammy winner found worldwide fame alongside Bob Marley in the early 1970s
His manager Maxine Stowe confirmed his death to the Jamaica Observer. Wailer had been frequently hospitalised since suffering a stroke in July 2020.
Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s prime minister, was among those paying tribute, offering “deep condolences” to his family, friends and fans, and calling his death “a great loss for Jamaica and for reggae”.
Born Neville Livingston in 1947 in Kingston, he and Marley became friends as toddlers, and formed the Wailers in 1963, which settled into a core trio of the pair alongside Peter Tosh. They released their debut album, The Wailing Wailers, in 1965 (which included their Jamaican chart-topper Simmer Down), before going on hiatus when Marley moved to Delaware in the US. Wailer was convicted for marijuana possession in 1967, and served a 14 month sentence.
They reconvened after Marley’s return and Wailer’s release, teaming with producer Lee “Scratch” Perry and his group the Upsetters, and began recording tracks in the new, slower reggae style that had emerged out of ska. Wailer penned a number of the group’s songs, including what would become his signature song, Dreamland.
By the early 70s, the Wailers had added new members and signed to Island Records, which – aided by the popularity of other new reggae stars such as Jimmy Cliff – helped bring them to international audiences. They had a global breakthrough with fifth album Catch a Fire (1973) and its follow-up, Burnin’, which featured what would become one of Marley’s signature songs, I Shot the Sheriff.
The original trio split in 1974, when Wailer left alongside Tosh. He began a solo career, beginning with 1976’s acclaimed Blackheart Man, and maintained a steady release schedule for 40 years. He won the Grammy award for best reggae album three times, in 1991, 1995, and 1997.
Who is Bunny Wailer’s wife Jean Watt? Bob Marley and the Wailers cofounder dies 10 months after wife went missing
Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley’s childhood friend and a founding member of Bob Marley and the Wailers, died at the age of 73 on March 2, 2021
Reggae legend Bunny Wailer (left) and his missing wife Jean Watt (right)On March 2, 2021, Bunny Wailer, one of the reggae’s most influential voices, died at the age of 73. The acclaimed musician from Kingston, Jamaica, founded The Wailers alongside his childhood friend, Bob Marley. The duo achieved international fame with reggae classics like ‘Simmer Down’ and ‘Stir It Up’, before Wailer left to go solo in 1974. Bunny’s death was confirmed by manager Maxine Stowe and Jamaica’s Culture Minister, Olivia Grange.
Wailer’s manager has not revealed the cause of the singer’s death, but he had been in hospital since having a stroke in July 2020. As the world mourns for the loss of Bunny Wailer, let’s have a look at the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Jean Watt.
Jasheed showing His concern for Jean Watt.
Who is Jean Watt?
Watt is the wife of the legendary musician Bunny Wailer. The reggae legend credited his wife for some recordings in the early 1970s. She is credited for writing ‘Hallelujah Time’ and ‘Pass It On’, which appeared on The Wailers album ‘Burnin’’ in 1973.
Jean Watt’s disappearance
On May 23, 2020, Jean Watt, also known as ‘Sister Jean’, reportedly went missing. As per multiple reports, Sister Jean’s relatives described the 70-year-old wife of the musical icon to the local authorities. At the time of Jean Watt’s disappearance, she had dreadlocks and was about five feet-three inches tall and was wearing a black top, brown bottom, and sandals.
Right after Jean Watt went missing, her relatives posted a message on Facebook that read, “starting the day with a prayer for the Livingston family, that Sister Jean is found today. Meditating, positively, that she is being cared for, by ones, who don’t know who she is, but will, by the outpouring of support and interest for the Hon Bunny Wailer, that it will all come together.”
Jamaican entrepreneur and author Wayne Chen also made an appeal to the public via his Twitter account in the hope that Wailer’s wife is found. On May 27, 2020, he wrote: “I first came across Jean Watt in 1973 as the songwriter/composer of ‘Hallelujah Time’ when I played, over and over, The Wailers’s ‘Burning’ album. Praying for her safe return.”
However, there has been no concrete news related to the finding of Jean Watt. In October, six months after her missing, Wailer’s manager Stowe told The Star that they receive hundreds of calls of reported “sightings”, but nothing has resulted in a solid lead. She added that “there have been sightings in Linstead and Harker’s Hall, but what we realize is that sometimes it’s the same person who is moving around and being seen by different persons.”
At that time, Wailer’s son, Abijah, had been making and posting videos with family members talking about Watt and appealing for her to come back home. The family offered a reward of J$1 million ($250,000) for her recovery or any valid information leading to her safe return. Meanwhile, Stowe revealed that Wailer remained frustrated that his spouse of more than 50 years has not been found, and he is unable to do anything about it.
As Bunny Wailer took his last breath on March 2, his wife of 50 years remained missing.