Danny Clarke, an original member of The Meditations who sang on their biggest hits, died in Clarendon parish, Jamaica on July 27. Ansel Cridland, his former colleague in the roots-reggae group, confirmed his death.
Clarke suffered several strokes in recent years and died in a nursing home. He was 71.
“Him was a cool bredrin, quiet bredrin. Him teach mi a lot about singing…him was very unique when it come to playing him guitar,” said the New York-based Cridland.
Along with Winston Watson, Cridland Clarke formed a harmony trio in 1973 while living in Majestic Gardens, a tough Kingston community. The following year, they cut a demo that became Woman Is Like A Shadow, their breakthrough hit when released in 1976 by the Channel One label.
The group had other hits with Woman Piabba, Running From Jamaica and Tricked. The Meditations also sang harmony on several of Bob Marley’s songs including Punky Reggae Party, Blackman Redemption and Rastaman Live Up.
Stand in Love, released in 2002 by their Meditations Music label, was the last album to feature Clarke who returned to Jamaica 12 years ago. Watson died in New York in March 2019.
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