William Alexander Anthony "Bunny Rugs" Clarke , 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 during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

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, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Southern Cone, NATO, Western European countries and oth ...

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 Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

, Clarke's father was an

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

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 tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper in ...

'', 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, Eric Frater 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, songwriter and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development ...

at the

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

, initially as a backing singer, then with

Leslie Kong Leslie Kong (20 December 1933 – 9 August 1971) was a Jamaican reggae producer. Early life Kong was born into a Chinese-Jamaican family. He had a "relatively comfortable upbringing" and attended St. George's College in Kingston. Career ...

'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 Earl Sixteen (born Earl John Daley, 9 May 1958)Gregory, Andy (2002) ''International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002'', Europa, , p. 152 is a Jamaican reggae singer whose career began in the mid-1970s. Biography Daley grew up in Waltham Park R ...

) to

Yabby You Vivian Neville 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. Biogra ...

'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 Jamai ...

Cobra COBRA or Cobra, often stylized as CoBrA, was a European avant-garde art group active from 1948 to 1951. The name was coined in 1948 by Christian Dotremont from the initials of the members' home countries' capital cities: Copenhagen (Co), Brussels ...

and General Trees.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. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the Western Hemisphere. Original ...

'', 15 January 2008, retrieved 7 September 2012 He contributed to the '' Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub 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 mainly by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It is about a meter maid and the narrator ...

" 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 The ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper published in Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by ...

'', 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 and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...

, where he was treated for

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce 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 20 August 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 as ...

, Opposition Culture Spokesperson

Olivia Grange Olivia Atavia "Babsy" Grange , Order of the Star of Ethiopia, DSE (born 27 April 1946) is a Jamaican politician. She has served as Member of Parliament for Saint Catherine Central since 1997 Jamaican general election, 1997 and as Jamaica's Minis ...

, and former Prime Minister

P.J. Patterson Percival Noel James Patterson, (born 10 April 1935), popularly known as P.J. Patterson, is a Jamaican people, Jamaican former politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006. He served in office for 14 years, mak ...

.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 (OD) 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 Ac ...

(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 Stationers' Company in September 1580,Frank Kidson, ''English F ...

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

Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

'' (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 Thankful" (1974), Belleville International *"War, War, War" (198?), Black Scorpio *"Bridges Instead" (1990), Two Friends – 12-inch,

Shabba Ranks Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon OD (born 17 January 1966), better known by his stage name Shabba Ranks, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world. Throu ...

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 i ...

, 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 (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Paul's first album, ''Stage One'', was released in 2000. He gained international fame with his second album, ''Dutty Rock'', in 2002. Its single "Get Busy ...

*"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 Driving, driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of thei ...

–

Bounty Killer Rodney Basil Price OD (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 fl ...

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

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

*''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 in Florida People from Mandeville, Jamaica Musicians from Manchester Parish Officers of the Order of Distinction 21st-century Jamaican male singers Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica