Remembering – Johnny Nash

Everyone is mourning Eddie Van halen today and rightfully so, legend that he was.But I’m going to mourn a little closer to home for myself. We lost a true Soul soldier today.We lost Johnny Nash.Johnny was known primarily for his huge hit, “I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW”. Johnny had so many more great recordings and I’m posting one of them here.

The aptly named, “You Gave Me Such Good Vibrations”.

I can still remember standing at the desk of Cynthia Jeffers when she worked for Hank Talbert at Arista records and Johnny stood before her being as charming as he could possibly be.I recognized him immediately and Cynthia was kind enough to introduce me to him. He in turn was gracious enough to sign an autograph, “…to Carlton…all the best… 11/29/78..”.

Rest in power Johnny. You served.

(CNN) Johnny Nash, best known for his 1972 hit “I Can See Clearly Now,” died Tuesday morning, his son, John Nash, told CNN. He was 80 years old.

The American reggae and pop music singer-songwriter passed away from natural causes at his home in Houston, his son said.
Johnny Nash began his career as a pop singer in the 1950’s. In the 1960’s, he and Danny Sims formed JAD Records, and while living in Jamaica, the pair signed Bob Marley and other members of the group, The Wailers.
“Johnny loved reggae,” Sims told the Houston Chronicle in 2012. “And he loved Bob and the guys. He taught Bob how to sing on the mic, and they taught Johnny how to play the reggae rhythm.”

The reggae-influenced “I Can See Clearly Now” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 4, 1972, and stayed in the top spot for four weeks, according to Billboard.
The song returned to the Billboard charts when it was recorded by Jamaican reggae star Jimmy Cliff for the 1993 “Cool Runnings” movie soundtrack. Cliff’s version made it to No. 11 on the Billboard charts.
Nash also sang the opening theme song for cartoon series “The Mighty Hercules,” which aired in the 1960’s.
According to his website, Nash was one of the first non-Jamaican singers to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica.