Lee “Scratch” Perry Dies At 85

On Sunday, the 29th of August, the world has lost one of the biggest music visionaries of the 20 century due to still unknown reasons. Lee “Scratch” Perry, born Rainford Hugh Perry, was a pioneer of roots reggae and dub music which influence didn’t know its boundaries. Even as a producer, he has strongly influenced various genres such as hip-hop, post-punk, dance music, and others. Keith Richards, the famous guitarist of the Rolling Stones band once said that Perry “was Salvador Dali of music”, while upon his death, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute to the Kingston-born artist and his “sterling contribution” to music.

Lee “Scratch” Perry, also known as The Upsetter, was a truly unique and remarkable artist that has and still will be leaving his shamanistic mark on music. As DJ David Rodigan has said; “The world of music has lost one of its most enigmatic creators; an amazing, incomparable phenomenon whose sonic sound waves transformed our lives.”

Thank you for everything you’ve done, Perry. Rest in power.