William Alexander Anthony "Bunny Rugs" Clark , OD (6 February 1948 – 2 February 2014), also known as Bunny Scott, was the lead singer of Jamaican

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

band

Third World The term "Third World" arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Western European nations and their allies represented the " First ...

as well as a solo artist. He began his career in the mid-1960s and was also at one time a member of Inner Circle and half of the duo Bunny & Ricky.

Biography

Born in Mandeville and raised on John's Lane in Kingston, Clarke's father was an

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of t ...

preacher.Katz, David (2006) ''People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee "Scratch" Perry'', Omnibus Press, , p. 217, 218 He joined Charlie Hackett and the Souvenirs, the resident band at the Kittymat Club on Maxfield Avenue, in the mid-1960s before leading the early line-up of Inner Circle in 1969.Bunny Rugs: Third World frontman became reggae superstar
, ''

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...

'', 14 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014 A spell living in New York City followed from 1971 where he was a member of the dance band Hugh Hendricks and the Buccaneers, and later the Bluegrass Experience with

Glen Adams Glen Adams (27 November 1945 – 17 December 2010) was a Jamaican musician, composer, arranger, engineer, producer, based since the mid-1970s in Brooklyn, New York City. Career Adams' mother was from Kingston and his father from St. Vincent; ...

Eric Frater The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...

and Sparrow Martin.Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall'', Greenwood Press, , p. 44-5 He returned to Jamaica in 1974 and recorded with

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

at the

Black Ark The Black Ark was the recording studio of reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, built in 1973 and located behind his family's home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica. Despite the rudimentary set-up and dated eq ...

, initially as a backing singer, then with

Leslie Kong Leslie Kong (20 December 1933 – 9 August 1971) was an influential Chinese-Jamaican reggae producer. Career Leslie and his two older brothers Cecil and Lloyd ran a restaurant, ice cream parlour and record shop called Beverley's in Orange Stre ...

's nephew Ricky Grant as the duo Bunny & Ricky, releasing singles such as "Freedom Fighter" and "Bushweed Corntrash", and also recording the solo album ''To Love Somebody'' (1975, credited as Bunny Scott). He was also a member of The Wild Bunch before returning to New York and taking over as lead singer of Third World from Milton "Prilly" Hamilton in 1976. With Third World he recorded the successful ''° in the Shade'' album, and was with the band until his death in early 2014 He returned to the Black Ark in 1977, contributing backing vocals (with Earl 16) to

Yabby You Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010), better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work. Biography Jac ...

's "Chant Down Babylon Kingdom". As well as performing and recording with Third World, he continued to record as a solo artist, releasing the Jack Scorpio-produced ''Talking to You'' album in 1995, with guest contributions from

Papa San Tyrone Thompson, (born July 1, 1967)
better known as Papa San, is a Jamaic ...

, Cobra and

General Trees Amos Edwards (born 13 December 1960)Steve Barrow and Peter Dalton (2004) ''The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn'', Rough Guides, , p. 284.David V. Moskowitz (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Music: An Encyclopedia of Reggae,Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and D ...

.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) ''The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.'', Rough Guides, , p. 323 His planned 2008 album ''Thinking Bout You'' was due to be released on 6 February, to coincide with Bob Marley Day celebrations, the date also being Clarke's birthday.Cooke, Mel (2008)
Bunny Rugs to release new 'birthday' album
", ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. Originally called the ''Daily Gleaner'', the name was changed on 7 December 1992 to ' ...

'', 15 January 2008, retrieved 7 September 2012 He contributed to the ''

Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band ''Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band'' is a dub reggae tribute to the Beatles' album ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'', by the Easy Star All-Stars. It was released on April 14, 2009. Track listing #"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ...

'' album in 2009, contributing a version of "

Lovely Rita "Lovely Rita" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 album ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It is about a meter maid and the narrat ...

" recorded with

U-Roy Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting.Jo-Ann GreeneU-Roy Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2013. U-Roy was known for a melodic style ...

. In 2012 he released the single "Land We Love", with profits going to the charities the Jamaican Children's Heart Fund (the charity for which he was a spokesman) and Chain of Hope.Walters, Hasani (2012)
Singing For Charity – Bunny Rugs' Charity Effort Released Yesterday
, ''

'', 29 August 2012, retrieved 7 September 2012 The single was taken from the album ''Time'', released in September 2012.Repynolds, Athaliah (2008)
Open heart surgeries save six 'little' lives
", ''

'', 8 November 2008, retrieved 7 September 2012 Later that year he received a Caribbean American Heritage Award for Outstanding Contribution to Reggae.Walters, Basil (2012)
Bunny Rugs to get US award
, ''

Jamaica Observer ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper published in Kingston, Jamaica. The publication is owned by Butch Stewart, who chartered the paper in January 1993 as a competitor to Jamaica's oldest daily paper, ''The Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an ...

'', 14 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012 Health problems forced him to miss some of the shows on Third World's fortieth anniversary tour in 2013, and he confirmed that he had been diagnosed with cancer.Walters, Basil (2014)
Bunny Rugs on the mend
, ''

'', 30 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014 In early 2014 he was hospitalized in

Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...

, where he was treated for

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

, and died on 2 February, 4 days before what would have been his 66th birthday.Silvera, Janet (2014)
Third World Lead Singer Bunny Rugs Is Dead
, ''

'', 3 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014Campbell, Howard (2014)
Death of a Reggae Ambassador
, ''

'', 4 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014 A memorial service later that month included tributes from Minister of Youth and Culture

Lisa Hanna Lisa Rene Shanti Hanna (born August 20, 1975) is a Jamaican politician and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 1993, becoming the third Jamaican to win the title. A member of the opposition People's National Party, Hanna currently serves a ...

, opposition culture spokesperson

Olivia Grange Olivia "Babsy" Grange , DSE (born 27 April 1946) is a Jamaican politician. She has served as Member of Parliament for Saint Catherine Central since 1997 and as Jamaica's Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture for the duration of the Jamaica Lab ...

, and former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.Brooks, Sadeke (2014)
Heart-Felt Tributes For Bunny Rugs Farewell
, ''

'', 25 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014 He is survived by his wife and five children. Clarke explained that his 'Bunny Rugs' nickname came from his grandmother calling him 'Bunny' as a child because he would "jump around the house like a rabbit" and from a member of the Third World road crew calling him 'Rugs' because of his liking for sleeping on the floor.Third World (Bunny Rugs) – Couleur Cafe 07/2005
", Rebel Base, retrieved 7 September 2012 In 2016 it was announced that Clarke would be posthumously awarded the

Order of Distinction The Order of Distinction is a national order in the Jamaican honours system. It is the sixth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament (''The National Honours and Awards Act'') ...

(Officer Class) by the Jamaican government for his contribution to the country's music.Bonitto, Brian (2016)
First-class honour for Third World singer
, ''

'', 18 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016

Discography

''See also

Albums

*''To Love Somebody'' (1975), Klik – as Bunny Scott *''Talking to You'' (1995),

Greensleeves "Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song. A broadside ballad by the name "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves" was registered by Richard Jones at the London Stationer's Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English Fo ...

/ Shanachie *''Bunny Rugs on Soul'' (2000), DFP Music *''What a World'' (2006), Elite Music Group *''I'm Sure'' (2007), CED *''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and event (philosophy), events that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various me ...

'' (2012),

VPAL VP Records is an independent Caribbean-owned record label in Queens, New York. The label is known for releasing music by notable artists in reggae, dancehall and soca. VP Records has offices in New York City, Miami, London, Kingston, Tokyo, J ...

Compilations

*''Timeless Classics'' (2011)

Singles

*"Let Love Touch Us Now"/"I Am I Said" (1982), Black Ark International – 12-inch, credited as 'Bunny Rags' *"Be Thank Full" (19??), Belleville International *"War, War, War" (198?),

Black Scorpio Black Scorpio is a Jamaican sound system and record label run by Maurice "Jack Scorpio" Johnson. History Johnson had started to operate a single turntable and speaker sound system in 1968 and started the Special I sound system in 1972, changing ...

*"Bridges Instead" (1990), Two Friends – 12-inch,

Shabba Ranks Shabba Ranks (born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon; 17 January 1966) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world. Throughout his prominence in his home cou ...

featuring Bunny Rugs *"Here Comes Rudie" (1991), Exterminator –

Gregory Isaacs Gregory Anthony Isaacs OD (15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010)Thompson, p. 127. was a Jamaican reggae musician. Milo Miles, writing in ''The New York Times'', described Isaacs as "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae".Miles, Milo (1992),RECORDI ...

& Bunny Rugs *"Rude Boy" (1991), Xterminator –

Tony Rebel Patrick George Anthony Barrett (born 15 January 1962), better known by his stage name Tony Rebel, is a Jamaican reggae deejay. Career Born in Manchester Parish, Jamaica, Barrett was initially a singer, appearing as Papa Tony or Tony Ranking in ...

, Gregory Isaacs, and Bunny Rugs *"If I Follow My Heart" (1993), Tuff Gong *"I'm The Ghetto" (1993), Leggo *"Stand By Me" (1994), Shanachie – Bunny Rugs & Papa San *"Stand By Me" (1994), Black Scorpio – Papa San & Bunny Rugs, B-side of Papa San's "Girls Every Day" *"Now That We've Found Love" (1995), Greensleeves – 12-inch *"Now That We Found Love" (1995), Black Scorpio – featuring

Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques OD (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican rapper and singer who is regarded as one of dancehall's most prolific artists. Paul's singles " Get Busy" and "Temperature" topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the ...

*"Now That We Found Love" (1995), Shanachie *"Apartheid No!" *"In Love Again" (2002), Bernard Hall/ Chad Supreme Records *"I'll Be There" (2002), Joe Frasier *"What a World" (2004), Raw Edge *"Marcus Garvey" (2004), Mister Tipsy *"Writings on the Wall" (2005), Elogic Music Group – Wayne Marshall & Bunny Rugs *"Now That We've Found Love" (2006), CED – CD maxi single *"World Today" (2007), Hyper-Active Entertainment *"Down in the Ghetto" (2007),

Taxi A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choic ...

–

Bounty Killer Rodney Basil Price (born 12 June 1972), known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair f ...

& Bunny Rugs *"Satamassagana" (20??), Coptic Lion – featuring

Tappa Zukie Tapper Zukie (or Tappa Zukie) (born David Sinclair, 1955, Kingston, Jamaica) is a reggae deejay and producer.Greene, Jo-AnnTapper Zukie Biography, Allmusic, retrieved 2011-02-15 Biography Tapper was the nickname given to him by his grandmo ...

*''Excerpts from the album Time'' EP (2011) *"Big May" (2012), Black Swan/Trojan *"Land We Love" (2012)

With Bunny & Ricky

*"Freedom Fighter" (1974), Black Art *"Bushweed Corntrash" (1975), Black Art

With Marcia Griffiths

*"Really Together" (2010), Marcia Griffiths and Friends *"Sense Of Purpose" (2010), Marcia Griffiths and Friends *"It's Not Funny" (2010), Marcia Griffiths and Friends

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunny Rugs 1948 births 2014 deaths 20th-century Jamaican male singers Jamaican reggae musicians Reggae fusion artists Deaths from leukemia Deaths from cancer in Florida People from Mandeville, Jamaica Officers of the Order of Distinction 21st-century Jamaican male singers Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica