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Another "Worler" gone! His contribution to the Jamaican music landscape is an indelible one. Just "Cat", "Bassie" and Stewart left now.

In reply to JoeGrine

Wow! Great musician! Sad day!
The music will live on forever!
May his soul RIP!

In reply to JoeGrine

Those guys made such great music.

In reply to JoeGrine
Real sad - within three weeks of his wife.
That’s three Coopers dead in a year. Real nice peeps.

In reply to nitro

Indeed - amazingly, they have never won a Grammy (the industry's top honor) and chances are their best work is behind them. Nevertheless, the best reggae band ever and one of the world's great bands.

I have some friends from Greece and the first time one of them heard a Third World song (it could have been one of "Forbidden Love" or "Try Jah Love" the remark was "these guys are excellent musicians, their musical IQ and harmony are among the best I have ever heard"

THIRD WORLD!

In reply to Chrissy

"Domino effect" perhaps. Some losses are more tolerable than others.

In reply to JoeGrine Wasn't this guy a formally trained musician, Royal Academy or some place like that? Sorry Coore was the guy I had in mind.

In reply to JoeGrine
Ibo was ailing for some time - stomach cancer.
Joy never got over Arif’s death. What a year of tragedy for that family.
Imagine losing brother, mum, dad, grandma and grandpa within months.

In reply to JoeGrine

Condolences to his friends and family. IMHO , the best reggae band ever. Ibo, I hope you see Jah Glory in the rising sun

In reply to JoeGrine

So Sad to hear. RIP Ibo.

I actually teared up reading this. Such an integral part of my young adulthood. I remember my brother not being able to stop talking about their 1979 sunsplash set. In 2003 I introduced some California's to them, 20yrs later me, them and a new generation of introductees drove down to LA to see 3rd World 2.0.
The Coopers couldn't live without each other. A nephew of mine similarly died 3 was. after his wife

In reply to JoeGrine

In reply to Chrissy

In reply to jacksprat
Damn - too sad.

In reply to jacksprat

I meant from their (or what I consider) classic line up. Thanks just the same for the info.

In reply to Chrissy

I got one chance to see them perform live some years ago at Jazz Fest. Great loss.

SIP Ibo.

In reply to JoeGrine
Yes. We ave lost another wonderful musician who was part of the best Reggae band in the Yard(World)
Sad to hear of this and also the passing of family members in a short time.
But Ibo will be remembered forever.
How many are left of that Iconic Band ? Cat ?
Thanks Third World, Ibo and the rest for the pleasure over the decades.

R.I .P ,Ibo.

Rest In Peace Ibo

Wow! His wife might not have even been laid to rest as yet.

RIP Ibo.

Had the pleasure of seeing Third world in NY in the 80s, at The Palladium and at Stony Brook University.

In reply to JoeGrine

96 Degrees in the Shade, to date probably the only song about the Morant Bay Rebellion.

RIP

In reply to mikesiva
You do know that the Morant Bay Rebellion was October 11 1865 - Ibo died on the 12th.

In reply to mikesiva

I believe that Joseph Hill made reference to the George William Gordon and the Morant Bay uprising in the song - Innocent Blood - on the their album, Africa stands alone.
Really sad to learn of another Third world stalwart's passing. I am fortunate to have five albums Ibo made with the group on Island Label. I always believe that these are albums to be treasured . After the group switched to Columbia, I just about stopped collecting their albums. First time I saw Third world was at Jarett Park in Mo Bay some time in the 1980s. The group actually backed Stevie Wonder for his one song appearance. That night Steel Pulse also made their Jamaica appearance. I will never forget steel Pulse. Even though the band was relatively new their performance was magical. To hear two of the best reggae Bands ever put together in one night is a treat I will forever savor. May Ibo's soul Arise in Harmony and rest in Glory.

In reply to DonD

Saw the new iterations of both those bands this summer still worth watching. The show was’82 Sunsplash 1 yr after Marley’s passing. What’s surprise to attendees to see Stevie being led out. Stevie actually played Now That We Found Love and Redemption Song. That Third World was the band Stevie sought out to pay tribute to Bob with tells us everything

DonD - you got to see the "classic lineups" for the two best reggae bands ever in one sitting, congratulations. I last saw Third World in 2004.

In reply to camos
Ibo was an academic at the Edna Manley College. He taught music - highly trained and well qualified,
Ibo was so good from so young that he played both the piano and organ at JC.

In reply to Chrissy
Learned music from his Aunt a music teacher, Ibo learned from his Mom a classical musician.
He earned qualifications from 'Royal Schools of Music' Daley I heard got his musical grounding
in the church.

In reply to Brerzerk

Stevie certainly did not sing any HAROLD MELVIN & BN / TEDDY PENDERGRASS song . He sang his own composition -Master Blaster, Jammin. Man! even after these 40 odd years I can still Feel Richie's thunderous Bass lines on that song reverberating in my head. I know that TW recorded now that we found love and it became a hit for them both the short and long versions. Do you really think that Stevie would come to Ja and in a tribute to Bob sing a Harold Melvin song?? Bob's song yes! I did have a chance to speak with Rita . She had a booth where she was selling TShirts and records.

In reply to DonD

Enjoy


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_ZcFFzyuKY

In reply to DonD

Check yuh messages

In reply to DonD

Rita was actually called on stage to participate in Redemption. Yes, he did play Jammin.
My next best experience of Redemption Song was Youth Consciousness Show. Bunny Wailers
return to the stage. At about 5am Bunny called on stage to join him Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths. Then Zillions of players from other bands created a pick up band to join in. i remember 'Im' Brooks and other horns-men, Sly n Robbie among others joining The Solomonic Reggaestra on that rendition. Same '82 Boxing Night.

In reply to Chrissy

Thanks!!