Veteran reggae singer John Holt died in a London hospital yesterday (Sunday, October 19). He was 69. Copeland Forbes, Holt’s manager since 2006, confirmed the entertainer’s passing. “John died at 2:40 am English time. His [John’s] nephew informed of his death,” Forbes told the Jamaica Observer. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed. Forbes said Holt did an operation at the University Hospital of West Indies in June and went to England the following month for a series of shows. Holt is one of reggae's most influential singers. Holt had been battling ill health for some time now and seems to have worsened since August when he collapsed on stage at the One Love Concert in England. John Kenneth Holt came to prominence as lead singer of the group The Paragons during the rocksteady era of the late-1960's before leaving to focus on his solo career in the 1970s. His solo career is just as impressive. He recorded hits for producers Clement Dodd, Bunny Lee and Joseph Hoo Kim in the 1970's, as well as the classic album 1000 Volts of Holt, a big seller in the United Kingdom. His song Stick by Me, was perhaps Holt's biggest success, and in 1972, it went on to become the biggest selling Jamaican record for that year. He was awarded the Order of Distinction, Jamaica's fifth highest honour, in 2004. Holt is survived by his wife, Merl. Source: ja observer, ja gleaner