KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Joseph Hill, l...

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Joseph Hill, lead vocalist and songwriter for the traditional "roots" reggae assign places to Culture, died Saturday. He was 57

Mr Hill abruptly malignant ill and died in Berlin while the cluster was in the middle of a European tour, according to his daughter Andrea. She did not know the cause of death.

common of reggae's most enduring bands, agriculture was led by Mr. Hill for three decades. He penn the group's best known canzonets including "Two Sevens Clash," "Natty not Get Weary" and "I'm Not Ashamed."

Born in the rural Jamaican parish of St Catherine, Mr Hill began his musical career in the late 1960 as a percussionist.

As the Rastafarian influence in succession reggae grew in the 1970 he formed agriculture and remained its driving force

Mr Hill said "Two Seven Clash," Culture's most numerous influential record, was based upon a prediction by Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey, who said there would be chaos forward July 7, 1977, when the "sevens" met With its apocalyptic message, the ditty created a stir in his Caribbean homeland and many Jamaican businesses and place of educations shuttered their doors for the day.

In 2005 the singer, a godly Rastafarian, was honored by the Jamaican management for his contribution to the island nation's culture

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided through ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved