4 months ago
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Hundreds of fans and well-wishers are expected to make their way to The Verandah, Lot 1, Clarendon Park, Clarendon, on Sunday to join in the celebration for the life of legendary reggae singer, Colvin ‘Cocoa Tea’ Scott.
Cocoa Tea died on March 11 in Florida, following a courageous fight with cancer. He was 65.
The official thanksgiving service is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
“This Thanksgiving Celebration aims to honour his profound impact on the industry and the people of Jamaica, ensuring that his legacy continues to resonate for years to come,” the family said.
Since his passing, musical tributes have been held in Florida and Jamaica, with full support from both fans and the music industry.
Capleton, who was among the artistes present at the Cocoa Tea tribute last Saturday in Miami, told the crowd that “We lost a great singer, a great general, a man who set the foundation for the youth.”
In an interview with The Gleaner, Capleton expressed his sorrow at Cocoa Tea’s passing.
“One of my favourite shows to perform was Cocoa Tea’s Jam Jam, and he and I have recorded several songs together. And we also toured together. I am deeply saddened by his passing and transformation, and condolences to the family,” Capleton said.
In 2003, Cocoa Tea put on his promoter’s hat and started staging the annual New Year’s Eve event, Dancehall Jam Jam, in his home parish, Clarendon. Jam Jam was last staged in 2009.
The two Rastafarian bredrens collaborated on songs such as What’s Wrong With the World, Adjust di Fire and Babylon Kingdom.
Interestingly, in the days following his passing, Cocoa Tea’s music enjoyed the kind of surge which some artistes get when they win a Grammy Award. His songs were all over the iTunes Album and Singles charts, and, for producer Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards, this was testament to the power and endurance of Cocoa Tea’s music.
“The news of Cocoa Tea’s death made headlines around the world, including the BBC in the UK . There was a soar in sales of his singles and albums on the iTunes reggae charts in the America and the UK. His album Reggae Anthology hit #2 on the album charts in America, second only to Bob Marley, and the album crossed over to #67 on the iTunes All Genre album charts in the UK. Several of his singles also hit the top 10 iTunes USA Reggae singles chart, including She Loves me now, Tune in , and 18 and Over. It is very significant that Cocoa Tea was able to achieve this,” Edwards told The Gleaner.
VP Records, in their tribute to Cocoa Tea, remembered him as “a true Jamaican music icon whose music will continue to resonate with his fans and generations to come”.
“Colvin Scott, known to the world as Cocoa Tea, was one of reggae and dancehall music’s most enduring vocal talents. Originally from Rocky Point in the parish of Clarendon, Tea was a regular on Kingston’s sound systems back in the early ‘80s, catching his big break with famed producer Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes as part of the Volcano Sounds’ pantheon of singers and deejays. Known for his distinct, silky, effortless vocal style, both in recordings and live performances, Tea scored hits pon toppa hits over the years with producers such as King Jammy, Gussie Clarke, Phillip ‘Fatis’ Burrell, and, of course, Junjo. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time,” the Chin family said in a statement.
Born in Rocky Point, Clarendon on September 3, 1959, Cocoa Tea was one of the most popular singers in Jamaica from the 1980s onwards, achieving significant worldwide success globally. His songs such as I Lost my Sonia, Rocking Dolly, Riker’s Island, Tune In, Good Life, She Loves Me Now, and Holy Mount Zion are a few of the classics that have enriched reggae music’s catalogue.
Cocoa Tea is survived by his widow Malvia, eight children and six grandchildren.
English (US) ·