Peter "Peetah" Morgan, the frontman of the Grammy Award-winning reggae ensemble Morgan Heritage, has passed away at the age of 46.
Renowned for chart-topping hits like "Don’t Haffi Dread (To Be Rasta)," "Down by the River," "Tell Me How Come," and "She’s Still Loving Me," the band announced Peetah’s untimely demise on Sunday (February 25), refraining from disclosing the cause of death.
In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, the Morgan family conveyed, "It is with profound love that we announce the ascension of our cherished husband, father, son, and brother, Peter Anthony Morgan, lead vocalist of Morgan Heritage. Jah has come to deliver us from ourselves, for love is the only path."Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed his sorrow on X, formerly Twitter, stating that his “heart is heavy” upon hearing the news. He described Morgan's passing as a “colossal loss" for Jamaica and the reggae music community.
Morgan, affectionately known as “Peetah,” hailed from the illustrious lineage of renowned Jamaican reggae vocalist Denroy Morgan.
In 1994, Peetah and his siblings joined forces to establish Morgan Heritage, a band that achieved significant acclaim, culminating in a Grammy win for Best Reggae Album in 2016 with "Strictly Roots."
One of Peetah's brothers, Roy “Gramps” Morgan, ventured to Tennessee with the goal of introducing Nashville to the vibrant rhythms of reggae.
Reflecting on the intrinsic connection between reggae and country music, Peetah once remarked to The Associated Press in 2018, “If you follow reggae music and country music, it’s a lot of storytelling. In reggae, we tell the story of people suffering.”
The other visionary siblings who played pivotal roles in founding the band were Una Morgan, Nakhamyah “Lukes” Morgan, and Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo” Morgan.
We will keep you updated as more developments surrounding this untimely loss is made available. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, supporters and loved ones.
