‘Police and Thieves’ reggae artist Junior Murvin dead

The singer died at hospital in Portland, Jamaica earlier today

Reggae artist Junior Murvin has passed away at the age of 67.

The Jamaica Observer writes that the singer died at the Port Antonio Hospital in Portland earlier this morning (December 2). Best known for the Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry produced 1976 single ‘Police and Thieves’, Murvin – real name Murvin Junior Smith – was apparently suffering from advanced stage diabetes at the time of his death.

The 1977 album ‘Police and Thieves’ was Murvin’s LP debut and saw him backed by The Upsetters. He released his last studio album, ‘World Cry’, in 1995. The Clash covered the song ‘Police and Thieves’ on their 1977 debut album. Scroll down to hear Murvin’s original version, as performed on Top Of The Pops.

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Murvin’s son, Kevin Smith, told the Jamaica Observer that his father was admitted to hospital last Thursday for diabetes and hypertension treatment.

The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess was amongst those to tweet a tribute to the singer, linking to the track ‘Cool Out Son’, and writing: “Sad to hear of the death of Junior Murvin… like lots of kids I was introduced to him through The Clash in 1977”.

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