Hill in performance

Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Joseph Hill, lead vocalist of reggae group Culture, collapsed after doing a show in Germany yesterday morning. He was 57.

His daughter, Andrea Hill, said he died from a liver failure. She described him as a "well rounded, well known and well loved" individual.

Mr. Hill's last performance in Jamaica was at the Reggae Sunsplash show, held in St. Ann earlier this month.

He began his career in 1972 as a percussionist with the Soul Defenders from Linstead, St. Catherine. His first recording was a forgettable track called Picture on the Wall with Freddie McKoy.

However, it was in the years 1976-77, that he broke from the ranks of the unknown with the message-oriented smashes, Jah See Dem a Come and the cathartic Two Sevens Clash.

As the 1970s stumbled to a close, the nation was in the grip of violence and Joseph tried to prepare a salve for the war-torn Western Kingston communities with Stop Fussing and Fighting. It became the theme song for the famous 'One Love' peace concert in 1978.

Mr. Hill has more than 30 albums and the group has toured Africa, Israel, Japan, United Kingdom and other Scandinavian countries extensively.

In 2003, he came out with World Peace album seeking peace worldwide and rejecting war.

Other hits include: