Tyrone Downie, a loyal member of the enduring Jamaican band Bob Marley and The Wailers, died in Kingston on Sunday at age 66. The Wailers disclosed the pianist’s passing on the band’s official Fb web page however didn’t disclose a reason for demise.
“It’s with nice unhappiness and a heavy coronary heart from the information that The Wailers’ personal keyboard participant, brother, and pal Tyrone Downie handed away right this moment. Tyrone joined The Wailers simply earlier than the age of 20, making his recording déhowever with the band on Rastaman Vibration. Once you hear the keys on Three Little Birds [and many others hits], it’s best to at all times consider Tyrone. The Wailers and mates want to supply our heartfelt condolences to Tyrone’s household. Relaxation in Energy Tyrone. #RestinPower #TyroneDownie,” the assertion learn.
Downie studied at Kingston Faculty and joined The Wailers within the mid-Nineteen Seventies, making his recording début with the band on Rastaman Vibration, having beforehand been a member of the Affect All Stars. It was whereas at KC that he performed his first recording session on Eric Donaldson’s Cherry Oh Child, which received the 1971 Pageant Track Competitors. He performed on each Marley studio album after Reside!, together with Exodus, and Kaya. He remained a member of The Wailers following Marley’s demise in 1981, touring Europe and the US.
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Nicknamed Organ D, Downie grew to become one of the vital in-demand session musicians in Jamaica through the Nineteen Seventies. He performed with The Abyssinians, Beenie Man, Black Uhuru, Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, Junior Reid, Tom Tom Membership, Ian Dury, Burning Spear, Metal Pulse, Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Sly & Robbie. He resided in France and was a member of the touring band of Youssou N’Dour, whose album Bear in mind he produced.
Downie launched the solo album Organ-D in 2001.
A number of members of the music fraternity have taken to social media to precise their condolences on the passing as they acknowledge the affect he had on Jamaica’s musical panorama.