Veteran reggae artiste Cocoa Tea, born Calvin Scott, famend for reggae anthems together with “Misplaced My Sonia,” “Tune In,” and “Rocking Dolly,” has died at age 65.
Cocoa Tea’s spouse, Malvia Scott, confirmed to the Jamaica Gleaner that her husband died Tuesday morning, March 11, in Broward County, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. following a cardiac arrest.
Jamaican-born, New York-based leisure publicist Anthony “ER Guru“ Turner, who had labored with the Cocoa Tea Crew in 2015 in Groovin’ In The Park Live performance, thought of North America’s premier Reggae and R&B Competition at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, stated, “Cocoa was the consummate performer who may electrify followers at any time when he carried out on stage.
“He did many nice deeds in his lifetime as a singer, songwriter, and performer, together with giving Jamaican artiste Koffee a platform at Insurgent Salute, which helped to buss her internationally,“ he stated. “He shall be sadly missed.”
Turner stated Cocoa Tea, born in Rocky Level in Clarendon, Jamaica, first garnered publicity in Jamaica by singing in church and faculty choirs.
He turned a faithful Rastafarian in 1985, stated Turner, including that Cocoa Tea’s religion “guided and influenced songs“ similar to “Settle Down,” “Don’t Be Shy,” “Too A lot Fussing and Preventing,” and “I’ve Gotta Love You.“
Turner stated Cocoa Tea made his mark as a constant hitmaker with songs like “Tune In,” “Crying Time,” “Should Unite,” and “Come Once more.“
“Considered one of Cocoa Tea’s largest hits that crossed over internationally was recorded in 2008 about then Presidential candidate Barack Obama,“ stated Turner, noting that the video and track had been featured on CNN and in The New York Instances.
Turner stated the track’s success in New York impressed Crew Jamaica Bickle, Inc. (TJB), a philanthropic group that gives hospitality to Jamaican and different Caribbean athletes on the Penn Relays Carnival on the College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
He stated TJB added Cocoa Tea to the line-up of entertainers for a profit live performance on the Brooklyn Heart for the Performing Artwork, billed as “On the Highway to Beijing Olympics.”
Turner stated funds raised on the occasion assisted Jamaican athletes competing on the 2008 Summer time Olympics in Beijing.
“Cocoa Tea was not simply an entertainer however an ‘edutainer,‘ who gave of himself by means of his music and philanthropic efforts that may dwell on as a rallying cry within the continued battle for our individuals’s freedom,“ stated Irwine Clare, Sr., TJB’s founder and chairman.
