Bunny Wailer’s Solo Catalog For Streaming — Reggae Legend Recovering, His Wife Jean Watt Still Missing
Reggae legend Bunny Wailer is still recovering from a major stroke which he suffered last year. His manager Maxine Stowe said that the legendary entertainer is still undergoing regular rehabilitation sessions, and is improving.
“He is doing as well as he can, given that he is still recovering from a major stroke. It is an uphill battle, but he is going up the hill,” an optimistic-sounding Stowe told DancehallMag.
The stroke was the legendary entertainer’s second stroke in only two years. In July 2020, the 73-year-old only Living Wailer was admitted to the hospital after suffering a second stroke. In 2018, he had his first stroke and went to Cuba for treatment.
Solo Catalog To Be Available For Streaming
Interestingly, Bunny Wailer‘s solomonic catalog, representing his solo career and works — that has been off the market for at least two decades — will soon be made available on all the digital service providers.
“This is just in time for the newly announced inclusion of Spotify in the Jamaican market. BunnyWailerMusic.com will anchor this digital campaign. This is an integrated merchandising platform, where Bunny uniquely owns all his intellectual property in his album covers, masters, and publishing. This is proving to be one of his greatest assets allowing for a seamless storytelling and promotion,” Stowe said.
In the meantime, a campaign is being launched on Sunday, February 28th in support of the Trench Town Heritage Site development, the Wailers Statue, The Wailers Trio Tribute Group & The Wailers label.
The launch will be held via the website, thewailersstory.com.
“This is being done ahead of his 74th Birthday on April 10th, Rastafari month and Ganja 420 celebrations. The Instagram teasers for the launch of the website are already running. This launch is a co-promotion with Live High who are also owned by our marketing partners WeeDesign,” Stowe said.
According to Stowe, the Wailers Story has been at the centre and definition of Bunny’s Music, Rastafari culture, ganja, and overall life experiences.
“As a founding member of the group birthed from his “blended family” relationship with Robert Marley through his father Thaddeus ‘Shut’ Livingston and Robert’s mother, Cedella Booker nee Malcolm. His-story remains as significant now as when it began,” she said.
The relationship between Livingston and Booker conceived a daughter, Pearl Livingston.
Bunny Wailer, as a founding member of the original Wailers, is known globally as a music icon. The Wailers Story retains its mystique and immediacy for its role in shaping reggae music. The shared home and initial rehearsal space with Peter Tosh at 17-19 Second Street in Trench Town is now a national heritage site. A three-time Grammy award winner, he is considered one of the longtime standard-bearers of reggae music.
Bob Marley and the Wailers were a Jamaican reggae band led by Bob Marley. It developed from the earlier ska vocal group, The Wailers, created by Peter Tosh, Marley and Bunny Wailer in 1963. By late 1963 singers Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith had joined on. By the time of Natty Dread (1974), the original group had split, with McIntosh (later billed as Peter Tosh) and Livingston (later billed as Bunny Wailer) leaving.
Marley died of cancer on May 11, 1981, while Tosh was killed at his St Andrew home on September 11, 1987.
Jean Is Still Missing, Reward Offered
“Bunny is known for his steely strength and determination which he draws on to face his current health challenges. It’s all very complicated by the continuing missing state of affairs of Jean Watt, his partner for as long as he has been a Wailer, but Bunny is drawing on his strength to push through,” Stowe said.
Bunny Wailer and his family are still searching for his missing wife Jean Watt.
The family is offering one million Jamaican dollars for her recovery or any valid information leading to the safe return of Sister Jean. Ms. Jean Watt was last seen walking along the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, in May 2020.
Bunny Wailer’s albums include Blackheart Man, released in 1976, and Rock ‘n’ Groove, which came out five years later. His hit songs include Cool Runnings, Ballroom Floor, Crucial, and Bald Head Jesus.
In 2017, the Jamaican Government awarded Bunny Wailer the Order of Merit, the country’s fourth-highest honour. The Government again recognized his contribution to Jamaican music in February 2019, with a Reggae Gold Award.