Bunny Wailer is dead, politicians and celebrities mourn him

The one and only legendary Reggae musician who was a founding member of The Wailers together with Peter Tosh and Bob Marley has passed away.

Bunny Wailer real name Neville O’Riley Livingston, 73, died on Tuesday in Kingston Jamaica.

His death was confirmed by his manager, Maxine Stowe who confirmed that he died at the Medical Associates Hospital in Kingston.

The passing was also corroborated by Culture Minister Olivia Grange.

Bunny Wailer had been making trips in and out of the hospital since he suffered his second stroke in 2020.

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Bunny Wailer was the youngest member of the legendary Reggae group, The Wailers. The group was founded in Jamaica’s Trench Town during the early 1960’s changing the Reggae scene as we know it today with numerous hit records under their own belts.

Each and every member of The Wailers went on to become successful solo musicians traveling across the world thanks to their music.

Bunny Wailer, a three-time Grammy Award winner was honored with the Order of Merit(OM), the fourth-highest honor in Jamaica for his contribution to popular music, Reggae.

The Government again recognized his contribution to Jamaican music in February 2019 with a Reggae Gold Award.

All the members of The Wailers are all Grammy Award-winning musicians with Bob Marley receiving his award for ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Grammy Award posthumously in 2001, inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 1994, in 2001, became the 2171^st on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was nominated for 3 Nobel peace awards.

Celebrities reaction

“Sending love to the Livingston family as Bunny Wailer makes his transition. A founding member of The Wailers and a reggae icon in his own right, he will be missed but not forgotten. “Live for yourself & you will live in vain—live for others, you will live again.” Rest in power” Bob Marley’s estate shared on Twitter

“The world has lost a LEGEND in Bunny Wailer. Born Neville Livingston, he was the last surviving member of The Wailers that was formed in 1963 and shot to global acclaim.

My condolences to his family, friends, and all reggae fans worldwide!

Fare thee well Maestro!” former Kenyan Prime Minister, and ODM leader Raila Odinga shared on Twitter.

The Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness took time to mourn the Reggae legend.

“My deep condolences to the family, friends and fans of legendary Reggae artiste, Neville Livingston, also known as Bunny Wailer, JahB.

Considered one of the longtime standard- bearers of Reggae music, Bunny Wailer was founder and an original member of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae group, “The Wailers” along with late Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

Bunny Wailer is a three-time Grammy Award winner. In 1991 he won the award for Best Reggae Album, “Time Will Tell,” a tribute to Bob Marley.

Four years later, he won another Grammy with the album “Crucial Roots Classic”, and in 1997, his third Grammy was awarded for the “Hall of Fame”, a tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary.

Bunny Wailer is a respected elder statesman of the Jamaican music scene.

This is a great loss for Jamaica and for Reggae, undoubtedly Bunny Wailer will always be remembered for his sterling contribution to the music industry and Jamaica’s culture. May his soul Rest In Peace.” Andrew Holnes shared on Twitter.