Jamaican Reggae Legend Ernie Smith Dies at 80

Jamaican reggae singer Ernie Smith, known for classics like Pitta Patta and Duppy Gunman, passed away Thursday night at a hospital in Florida.

His wife, Claudette Bailey-Smith, confirmed to The Jamaica Gleaner that Smith had undergone one surgical procedure and was awaiting another when he died. He would have turned 81 on May 1st.

Smith launched his music career in the late 1960s and quickly became a household name across the Caribbean. By 1971 he had scored hits with Bend Down and Ride on Sammy and went on to record some of the most recognisable songs in Jamaican music history.

His greatest international moment came in 1972 when he won the prestigious Yamaha Music Festival in Japan with Life is Just for Living, a song that had originally been written for a Red Stripe beer commercial.

The Jamaican government recognised his contributions the following year, awarding him the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in the Field of Music in 1973 for his lasting impact on Jamaican cultural heritage.

Smith visited Belize several times.