Bob Marley: The globally revered King of Reggae passed away on May 11, 1981, at just 36 years old. He was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer that began under his toenail. Guided by his Rastafarian faith, he declined early amputation, and the cancer eventually metastasized to his vital organs, including his lungs and brain.

.Cocoa Tea (Calvin George Scott): The iconic reggae singer passed away on March 11, 2025, at the age of 65. Famous for hits like “I Lost My Sonia” and “Sweet Sweet Cocoa Tea”, he had been privately battling lymphoma since his diagnosis in 2019.

Determine (Rohan Bennett): Known for his massive mid-1990s Nyabinghi-dancehall hit “Kette Drum” alongside Beenie Man, Determine passed away on February 13, 2025, at 52 years old after a battle with stomach cancer.

Kukudoo (David McDermott): A highly beloved veteran of the Jamaican gospel scene, Kukudoo passed away on May 8, 2026, at the age of 56. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a type of blood cancer) but tragically ran out of time to undergo chemotherapy treatment.

Bob Andy (Keith Ainsley Anderson): Celebrated as one of the most influential songwriters in reggae history and known for the UK hit “Young, Gifted and Black” with Marcia Griffiths, he lost his battle with cancer on March 27, 2020, at 75 years old.

Dolphin “Naggo” Morris: A former lead vocalist for the legendary rocksteady and reggae harmony group The Heptones, Morris succumbed to cancer on May 17, 2020, at the Cornwall Regional Hospital at age 72.Duke Reid (Arthur Reid): One of the foundational architects of Jamaican music, the legendary producer and sound system operator who founded the Trojan and Treasure Isle labels died of cancer in 1975.