Legendary Reggae Producer Lee 'Scratch" Perry Has Passed Away

CREDIT: Getty Images

Legendary reggae and dub music producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry has sadly passed away at the age of 85.

It was reported that he took his last breath in a hospital in Lucea, Jamaica but no cause of death has been released.

His death was confirmed by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

CREDIT: Tim Goode/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Lee was born Rainford Hugh Perry in 1936. He dropped out of school at a young age and became a worldwide archive of knowledge of music.

His nickname 'Scratch' comes from a 1965 song 'Chicken Scratch.' 

During his time on Earth, he worked with many legendary people including Bob Marley and the Wailers, the Heptones, Junior Murvin, and many more.

He was instrumental in creating some of their hit songs. He was also known for falling out with as many people as he promoted to famous.

CREDIT: Getty Images

In an NPR profile from 2006, Christopher Johnson said, "It was clear early on that he was best off as his own boss. He created a record label and formed a band called The Upsetters. He wrote songs that dissed his old mentors, and those tunes became hits in Jamaica."

Lee also allegedly sold the Wailers' tapes to another label and kept the money.

He had legendary fashion and spiritual practices, as well as questionable ethics.

He also transitioned into rock and rap, working with Clash, Paul McCartney and the Beastie Boys.

"He was experimenting with things that people still to this day are inspired by. He was doing remixes before the term even really existed with these 12-inch dub plays, disco mixes that would splice together different songs, different rhythms and effects."

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He was suspected of burning down his Black Art studio in 1983 after suffering a breakdown where he covered almost every available surface in black marker.

"I needed to be forgiven of my sin. I created my sin, and I burned my sin, and I am born again," he said.

He also temporarily moved to Switzerland after the fire, because, as said by Lee, he was part elf and needed cold weather.

"I tire of the trope that genius rides shotgun with madness, but few people were as weird or cast as long a shadow as Lee Perry. His records were shocking and became talismans for anybody who ever tried to manifest the sound in their head. Requiescat." - Steve Albini.