Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Reggae Giant And Dub Pioneer, Dead At 85

Reggae legend Lee “Scratch” Perry is dead at the age of 85.

He pioneered the technique of dub versions of reggae tracks, with the bass emphasized, vocals sometimes removed, and reverb added. Perry built his own studio in 1973 called Black Ark where Paul and Linda McCartney recorded two songs.

Before Black Ark, Perry also worked with Bob Marley and the Wailers and later went on to work with the Beastie Boys. He won a Grammy award for the 2003 album “Jamaican ET.”

He died yesterday (Sunday) in Jamaica. His cause of death wasn’t revealed.