Johnny Nash, best known for his million-selling anthem "I Can See Clearly Now," died Tuesday morning (October 6), said his son, Johnny Nash Jr.
The reggae and pop music singer-songwriter, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes at home in Houston, his hometown, Nash Jr., told The Associated Press. Nash was 80-years-old.
Nash was married three times and had two children. In addition to his son, he is survived by his daughter Monica and wife Carli Nash.
Nash began his music career in the 1950s. While living in Jamaica in the 1960s he and Danny Sims formed JAD Records and went on to sign Bob Marley and other members of the group, The Wailers.
"Johnny loved reggae," Sims told the Houston Chronicle in 2012, per CNN. "And he loved Bob and the guys. He taught Bob how to sing on the mic, and they taught Johnny how to play the reggae rhythm."
According to Nash's website, he was one of the first non-Jamaican singers to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica.
Nash reportedly wrote his 1972 hit "I Can See Clearly Now" while recovering from cataract surgery. The track hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 4, 1972, and stayed in the top spot for four weeks, according to Billboard.
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