Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie (20 May 1956 – 5 November 2022) was a Jamaican keyboardist and pianist best known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and The Wailers.[1]
Tyrone Downie | |
|---|---|
 Downie in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Tyrone Downie |
| Also known as | Organ D |
| Born | 20 May 1956 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Died | 5 November 2022 (aged 66) Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Arranger, Pianist, Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards (piano, rhodes piano, organ, synthesizers, mellotron), guitar |
| Years active | 1970–2022 |
He studied at Kingston College and joined The Wailers in the mid-1970s, making his recording debut with the band on Rastaman Vibration, having previously been a member of the Impact All Stars.[2][3] He also played with The Abyssinians, Beenie Man, Black Uhuru,[3] Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, Junior Reid,[1] Tom Tom Club, Ian Dury, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Sly & Robbie. He resided in France and was a member of the touring band of Youssou N'Dour, whose album Remember he produced.[2]
In 1983, Grace Jones released the single "My Jamaican Guy". Unbeknown to Downie, he (though in a relationship and not romantically linked to Jones) was the subject of the song.[4]
Downie released the solo album Organ-D in 2001.[3]
Downie played keyboards on the album 'Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free' with Earl Chinna Smith's InnadeYard Binghistra Movement, released on August 17, 2022.[5]
Downie died in Kingston on 5 November 2022, at the age of 66.[6]
References
- Foster, Chuck (1999) Roots Rock Reggae, Billboard Books, ISBN 0-8230-7831-0, p. 66, 116
- "Wailers bands carry on tradition for survival", Jamaica Gleaner, 19 July 2009, retrieved 31 October 2010
- Moskowitz, David V. (2006) "Tyrone Downie", in Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-313-33158-8, p. 92-3
- Simon Hattenstone (17 April 2010). "Grace Jones: 'God I'm scary. I'm scaring myself'". The Guardian. www.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- "Maroon Songs: Born Free, Live Free, Ever Free". Reggae-vibes.com. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- "Bob Marley and The Wailers pianist Tyrone Downie is dead". Jamaica Observer. www.jamaicaobserver.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
External links
- Tyrone Downie at Roots Archives
