Gregory Isaacs

The Cool Ruler

Gregory Anthony Isaacs was born in Kingston on July 15, 1950 per Wikipedia, 1951 per MusicBrainz and others, and died on October 25, 2010 in London, aged 59 or 60. He was nicknamed the Cool Ruler and the Lonely Lover. His 1968 debut under the name Winston Sinclair was "Another Heartache", produced by Byron Lee, and sold poorly; his vocal trio the Concords folded in 1970. In the early 1970s he founded the African Museum label with Errol Dunkley, and "My Only Lover" is credited as the first lovers' rock record. In 1974 he worked with Alvin Ranglin and had his first Jamaican number 1, "Love Is Overdue"; "Border" and "Number One" followed on Ranglin's GG's label in 1977 and 1978. He opened the Cash and Carry record shop on Orange Street with Trevor Douglas.

Isaacs signed to Front Line (Virgin) in 1978, appearing in the film Rockers performing "Slavemaster", and released Cool Ruler that year and Soon Forward in 1979. He played Reggae Sunsplash from 1981 and every year to 1991, and moved to Pre (Charisma) for Lonely Lover (1980) and More Gregory (1981). Night Nurse (1982), his first for Island, was produced by Isaacs and Errol Holt, with the Roots Radics, and reached 32 in the UK. Out Deh! followed in 1983, and Private Beach Party in 1985 with Gussie Clarke. The New York Times's Milo Miles called him the most exquisite vocalist in reggae. Brand New Me (2008) and Isaacs Meets Isaac (2010) both received Grammy nominations.

A Gregory Isaacs Foundation was founded on July 15, 2011. A mural went up at 125 Orange Street in 2015, blue plaques in Harrow in 2016 and St Andrew in 2018, and the Order of Distinction (Officer) was announced in 2016. The Red Rose for Gregory concert has been held since 2017. Wikipedia counts over 500 albums, many of them compilations. Setlist.fm lists 84 setlists, with "Night Nurse" his most played song at seven plays.