Kingston, 6 September 2024 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has said that she’s deeply saddened by the passing of the musicologist and author, Garth White.

Minister Grange said Mr White was “like an encyclopaedia that I could always consult on matters related to Jamaican music; he was so knowledgable.”

“I am really sad by this news. The nation has lost an outstanding son whose knowledge and passion for our music was unparalleled. I really will miss him,” said Minister Grange.

Mr White served as Researcher at the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank, part of the Institute of Jamaica which is an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

He also served on the Reggae Gold Awards Committee, which selected the first 50 Reggae Gold Awardees.

In recognition of his writings on Jamaican music, Minister Grange awarded him the Reggae Gold Media Award.

His publications included ‘The Development of Jamaican Popular Music with Special Reference to the Music of Bob Marley: A Bibliography’ (1982) and ‘Traditional Musical Practice in Jamaica and Its Influences on the Birth of Modern Jamaican Popular Music’ (1982).

Mr White passed away on Wednesday at age 77.

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