Gregory Isaacs, The Cool Ruler! (1951-2010)

Gregory Isaacs: The Cool Ruler

Jamaican Reggae Legend, Gregory Isaacs has passed today.

All the world of reggae music lovers will mourn the loss of the man known as “The Cool Ruler”. Though I never had the pleasure of performing with this master musician, I did see him perform on stage three times in my life.

He had a silky smooth delivery and the suave cool of a ghetto Casanova. Gregory Isaacs’ appeal to women was obvious but his appeal to men was even more powerful. He was that brother you could relate to, like so many you knew from the neighborhood posse. He was somebody that it was cool to look up to, cool to be like, a smooth brother.

I can still remember how he strolled onto the stage with his tall hat tilted to the side. He took his time, because he could! He had that Jamaican walk that said he grew up on the tough side of the tracks. This made him more than the average love song singer, Gregory Isaacs was tough but he could admit to a broken heart. Gregory Isaacs was a Black man and I could relate to him.

His voice was captivating, one of those singers who’s every word you could remember. If you lived in Brooklyn, I’m sure you remember Earl Chin’s late night Rockers show, after the midnight hour.  Can anybody forget hanging out with their woman, candle light, incense burning, and Gregory Isaacs in the room singing “Night Nurse”?