Neville Garrick, who designed many of Bob Marley and The Wailers’ album jackets, died in Los Angeles on November 14. He was 73.
A statement from his family said he died after, “a very brief, brave fight with cancer.”
Garrick was born in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, but lived most of his life in Southern California where he attended the University of California at Los Angeles.
While a student there during the early 1970s, he was part of the Black Power movement. A trained graphic artist, he became artistic director for the fledgling Daily News newspaper when he returned to Jamaica.
His work caught the attention of Marley during that time, and he was recruited to design the rising star’s album covers for Island Records.
Garrick designed epic jackets for the Rastaman Vibration, Exodus, Kaya, and Survival albums, all of which complemented the singer-songwriter’s militant message. He also designed the stage backdrops for Marley’s performances.
This year, Rastaman Vibration was recognized by Billboard Magazine for being number 22 of its Best 100 Album Covers of All Time.
Garrick also designed album covers for Burning Spear and Jimmy Cliff.
Following Marley’s death from cancer in May, 1981, Garrick was appointed first head of the Bob Marley Foundation which oversaw various aspects of the reggae king’s legacy.
“In him, Bob Marley saw a young, kindred spirit who was in the same struggle as him, as Neville had been part of the Angela Davis movement in Los Angeles. Bob wanted Neville to create the visuals of what The Wailers were putting into the music,” said veteran music insider Wayne Jobson.
Garrick, who is survived by a brother, three children and grandchildren, worked as a consultant on the Marley movie, Bob Marley: One Love, which is scheduled for release in February.
In October, he was awarded the Order of Distinction, Jamaica’s sixth-highest honor, by the country’s government.
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