Hector ‘Bunny’ Williams, an acclaimed session drummer who played on a number of hit songs at Studio One, died Thursday at age 79.
His daughter Keisha Marie Williams said he died at Cornwall Regional Hospital. He was admitted there two weeks ago for kidney treatment.
Born in West Kingston, Williams started his career in the early 1960’s. A protoje of Skatalites drummer Lloyd Knibb, he came into his own during the rocksteady era later that decade.
He played on songs such as Alton Ellis’ Girl I’ve Got A Date, No, No, No by Dawn Penn, and Seems To Me I’m Losing by Dobby Dobson.
Despite his impressive track record, Williams never got the acclaim as some of his contemporaries, including Knibb, Joe Isaacs or Fil Callender. In July, he was recognized for his contribution to Jamaican music by the Tribute To The Greats organisation.
He welcomed the award, telling the Jamaica Observer that, “We need to highlight more of us who people don’t know.” Williams is the latest Jamaican veteran musician to die this year. Saxophonist Headley Bennett passed away in August, while trumpeter Bobby Ellis died in October.
Hector ‘Bunny’ Williams is survived by seven children and grandchildren.
—By Howard Campbell
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