Reggae Legend Cocoa Tea Dead At 65

Reggae legend Colvin ‘Cocoa Tea’ Scott died this morning following a cardiac arrest. He was 65.

His wife, Malvia Scott, confirmed to The Gleaner that the veteran singer passed away at 4:46 this morning at a hospital in Broward, Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

He was initially diagnosed with lymphoma in 2019, but for the last six months he was also struggling with pneumonia. Lymphomas refers to types of cancer that begin in the various lymph glands around the body when abnormal white blood cells grow. He was hit with this dire prognosis six years ago.

“He was a great co-worker, a great friend, a great singer, he was always a good youth and I just hope his soul rests in peace ’cause his spirit lives on. He was loved by his peers, he has done a lot for the business and this is a great blow to the industry,” well-known producer and singer Robert Ffrench, one of his long-time friends, told DancehallMag on Tuesday. 

“This saddens my spirit, a lot of times I should have gone to see him, but I didn’t want to see him in that condition. I remember the first time I performed in Apollo Theatre, it was Coco Tea and Little John were the artists who accompanied me on my first time in the USA, a lot of memories. Hail to the great king. I offer my condolences to his friends and family.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed his condolences in a post on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the legendary artist’s impact on Jamaica’s culture and his enduring contributions through music.

“I extend condolences to the family, friends, and supporters of Calvin George Scott, affectionately known as Cocoa Tea. His smooth vocals and compelling lyrics gave us timeless classics like Rocking Dolly and I Lost My Sonia, songs that have become anthems in our cultural landscape,” Holness shared.

He also praised Cocoa Tea’s humanitarian spirit, saying, “Beyond his musical genius, Cocoa Tea was a beacon of kindness and generosity, consistently uplifting the less fortunate and embodying the warmth of our nation…As we mourn his passing, let us celebrate the rich legacy he leaves behind, a legacy of melody, compassion, and cultural pride. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, said she was “very saddened by the passing of Sweet Sweet Coco Tea”.

“May his soul rest in peace,” Minister Grange stated.

Known for his sweet, melodic voice, as well as his powerful chanting, he scored hits with songs such as I Lost my Sonia, We Do The Killing, Rocking Dolly, Weh Dem A Go Do, Holy Mount Zion, Tune In, Rikers Island and more.

In 2003, Coco Tea started the annual New Year’s Eve event Dancehall Jam Jam. It ran until 2009, with plans to resurrect it in 2015.

He also famously introduced Grammy winner Koffee when he invited her onstage during his set at Rebel Salute 2018 where she made an impressive debut. 

Cocoa Tea’s last performance was three years ago on the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise. 

He is survived by his wife, Malvia and eight children.