Veteran reggae singer Cocoa Tea has died at the age of 65.
The legendary artist, born Colvin Scott, passed away early this morning at a hospital in Broward, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a cardiac arrest. His wife, Malvia Scott, confirmed the news, revealing that he had been battling lymphoma since 2019 and had also struggled with pneumonia in recent months.
Known for his sweet, melodic voice and signature chanting style, Cocoa Tea became a household name in Jamaica and worldwide. He gained recognition in the 1980s with hits like "I Lost My Sonia" and "Sweet Sweet Cocoa Tea", later expanding his global fan base with iconic songs such as "Israel’s King," "Rocking Dolly," and "Weh Dem A Go Do".
Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, Olivia Grange, expressed her sorrow, stating, "He is one of the greatest reggae singers who has ever lived, and his work will stand the test of time."
Cocoa Tea’s final live performance was on the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise three years ago. In 2019, he took the stage at Buju Banton’s Long Walk to Freedom concert in Kingston. Throughout his career, he worked with major reggae labels like VP Records, Greensleeves Records, and Ras Records and later launched his own label, Roaring Lion.
In 2008, Cocoa Tea gained international attention with his song "Barack Obama," supporting the then-presidential candidate.
He is survived by his wife, Malvia, and eight children.
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