He was a reggae recording artist and songwriter from Trenchtown, Jamaica who teamed up with Donald “Tabby” Shaw in the late 1960s when they formed the group the Limelights. He replaced a member of the group The Meditators and recorded “Mother Cuba” and “When You Go To a Party”.
In 1969 he and Tabby Shaw and Lloyd “Judge” Ferguson joined up and formed the band Mighty Diamonds. They began their band career with Rupie Edwards and then recorded for Bunny Lee and toured with Toots and the Maytals. On Jamaica’s 59th Anniversary of Independence in 2021 the group was honoured in the National Honours and Awards.
He co-wrote songs including a version of “Pass the Koutchie” which was to become “Pass the Dutchie” and a successful hit for Musical Youth.
He suffered a minor stroke several years previously and more recently recovered from Covid-19 but passed away on 1st April 2022 after a long battle with diabetes, just three days after his band member Tabby Shaw had been killed in a drive-by shooting. He was 71 years old.
Musical Youth recordings
Pass the Dutchie (Jackie Mittoo/Fitzroy Simpson/Lloyd Ferguson)
Sources:
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/two-members-mighty-diamonds-dead-obit-1331666/
- https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/another-member-of-reggae-group-mighty-diamond-fitzroy-bunny-simpson-passes/
- https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/front-page/diamond-distress-fitzroy-simpson-is-second-member-of-iconic-reggae-group-to-die-in-two-days_247706?profile=1373
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_Diamonds
- www.nghthwk.com/Artists/various_cr.htm