Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Joseph Hill of Culture performing at Reggae Sunsplash 2006. He won a new generation of fans in the late '90s. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

AS NEWS of singer Joseph Hill's death circulated on Saturday, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians, Desmond Young, said it is sad not many of Hill's countrymen are familiar with his impressive legacy.

According to Mr. Young, too many Jamaicans associate the lead singer of the roots-reggae group Culture with the events of July 7, 1977. The group's best known song, Two Sevens Clash, predicted chaos that day, and hundreds of Jamaicans played it safe and stayed home.

"He was a dedicated artiste who was into inspiring people to be positive. Jamaica never saw his full impact," said Mr. Young.

Hill died in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday at the age of 57. The Culture website said the singer fell ill and died shortly after.

Lengthy European tour

Culture, which last performed locally at Reggae Sunsplash in July, was in the midst of a lengthy European tour. Along with other roots luminaries from the 1970s, such as Burning Spear and the Mighty Diamonds, the group toured on the strength of its classic catalogue of hit songs.

The charismatic Hill was the trio's driving force. He wrote the group's biggest hits which also included (Jah Jah) See Dem a Come, I'm Not Ashamed and Natty Never Get Weary.

His powerful lyrics, which mainly dealt with social issues, reflected his Rastafarian faith. But like most good songwriters, Hill was capable of shifting gears as he showed on the rib-tickling 1978 hit, She Want Money.

In recent years, his influence on contemporary reggae has grown. Four years ago, the dance halls were rocking to the revived beat of Zion Gate, a song Culture cut for producer Joe Gibbs 30 years ago.

"(It) makes me feel responsible for the music," Hill said of Zion Gate's second coming in 2003. "Everybody is supposed to try to do the best they can as long as they can. If you do the music in the right way, then you are responsible for your self-esteem and the well-being of good things in the world."

Born in Linstead, St. Catherine, Hill was typical of the budding musicians who came to Kingston, seeking fortune in the 1960s. He started out as a percussionist with the Soul Defenders band at Studio One, and played on fellow Linstead native Freddie McKay's smash hit, Hanging on The Wall.

In 1975, at the height of Marley-mania, he started Culture with cousins Albert Walker and Kevin Dayes and hit the mark the next year with (Jah Jah) See Dem a Come. In 1977, came the infamous Two Sevens Clash which Hill said was inspired by a Marcus Garvey prophecy that said all hell would break loose on the day the sevens clashed.

The album of the same name was a strong seller in Europe and struck a chord with the emerging punk movement. It is a landmark record in what many regard as reggae's most creative period.

Long-running battle

Hill and Culture recorded for several producers, some of whom he did not see eye to eye. The most noted was Gibbs, with whom he had a long-running battle over royalties from the Two Sevens Clash album.

After a lengthy break from the local scene, Culture made a triumphant return in August 1997 at the Heineken Startime show. He performed frequently in Jamaica after that show and won a new generation of fans.

Hill and Culture recorded their last album, World Peace, in 2003. They were awarded the Prime Minister's Award in August 2005.