Singer-Songwriter Johnny Nash Dead at 80

Singer-Songwriter Johnny Nash, best known for his #1 song, “I Can See Clearly Now” and his collaborations with Bob Marley has died at the age of 80.

Nash’s signature song “I Can See Clearly Now” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Cashbox Charts in 1972, and best best known for a song having its reggae influences.

Nash was born in Houston, Texas on August 19, 1940. Nash started his recording career in his teens in the 1950s.

In 1964, Nash and his manager Danny Sims formed JoDa Records in New York. The label JoDa released The Cowsills’ single “All I Really Want to Be Is Me.” JoDa ended up filing for bankruptcy after two years. The duo moved over to marketing ^[ American singers to Jamaica, due to the low cost of recording in that country. Nash himself was one of the first Americans to record in Jamaica.

Nash and Sims would go on to form a new company (JAD Records) and sign Bob Marley and the Wailers to a recording contract. It would be a start of multiple collaborations between Nash and Marley. Nash would score a UK hit with his cover of Marley’s “Stir It Up”. In addition, Nash would go on to tour with Marley.

By the late 1970s, Nash’s career was no longer in the limelight. “I Can See Clearly Now” had a resurgence in 1993 when Jimmy Cliff covered it for the motion picture “Cool Runnings”.

Nash had been said to be in declining health for some time and died of natural causes. he is survived by his wife Carli, son Johnny Jr, and daughter Monica.