Peetah Morgan, Lead Singer Of Morgan Heritage, Dead At 50

Peter “Peetah” Morgan, lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning Reggae band Morgan Heritage, has died at the age of 50.

The band, known for songs such as Don’t Haffi Dread (To Be Rasta), Down by the River , Tell Me How Come , and She’s Still Loving Me , announced Peetah’s passing on Sunday (February 25).

“It is out of sincere love that we share that our beloved husband, father, son, and brother and lead singer of Morgan Heritage Peter Anthony Morgan has ascended today,” the Morgan family wrote in a statement posted to Instagram.  “Jah come and save from ourselves because love is only way.”

“Our family thanks you in advance for your overwhelming love and support, and we ask your continued prayers as we go through this process. We also ask that you please respect our privacy during this time of healing.”

The Morgan family has not yet disclosed an official cause of death. However, publicist and music marketer of the sibling group, Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards, told DancehallMag that Morgan died in the United States after suffering a stroke.

“Obviously, illness is a very private matter, and only a medical professional can accurately comment on the precise cause of death, but what I have gathered is that he had suffered a stroke and died in the States,” he said.

Edwards reminisced on the last moment he shared with Peetah.

“I can only say that my last moment with Morgan Heritage was last year independence when they received the National Icon award at the National Stadium. I’m glad he received it when he was alive as well as his Grammy Award while living. He seemed very healthy at the stadium and sang very well. He was a very humble and usually quiet,” Edwards said.

In 2022, the family mourned the passing of its patriarch and veteran Reggae singer Denroy Morgan, who fathered 30 children.

Denroy’s children formed several groups, including Morgan Heritage, which initially began with eight siblings in 1994.

The group then settled on five members, Peter “Peetah” Morgan, Una Morgan, Roy “Gramps” Morgan, Nakhamyah “Lukes” Morgan, and Memmalatel “Mr. Mojo” Morgan, before recently morphing into a trio comprising Peetah, Gramps, and Mr. Mojo.

Morgan Heritage’s last project was The Homeland, released in April 2023. It was described as a “World Music” album combining the sounds of Africa and Jamaica.

Their debut album, dubbed Miracles, was released back in 1994, just months after making their first appearance on the main stage at the Reggae Sunsplash music festival. 

In 2015 their album Strictly Roots spent 44 weeks on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, peaking at No. 1. That album has the distinction of taking home the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, over other successful albums such as Jah Cure’s The Cure, Luciano’s Zion Awake, and Barrington Levy’s Acousticalevy in 2016.

They were also nominated for Best Reggae Album in 2017 for their album, Avrakedabra.

Peetah Morgan’s solo career saw the release of songs such as Better World (2023), My Makeda (2012), Heart Like Lion with Jah Sun (2012), Unfair with Busy Signal (2010), and Bye Bye (2009).

Editor’s note: This story was updated with Morgan’s cause of death. His age was also corrected.