Reggae icon Max Romeo passes away at 80, leaves behind music legacy

The world of reggae is in mourning following the passing of Jamaican legend Max Romeo, who died at the age of 80 due to heart complications. News of his death broke over the weekend, announced via a heartfelt statement from his family that was shared on social media. Tributes poured in from across the globe, as fans, musicians, and political figures remembered a man who was as bold as he was beloved.

Born Maxwell Livingston Smith in 1944, Romeo was never one to shy away from controversy—or from using his music to challenge the status quo. He first made headlines in 1968 with the release of Wet Dream, a cheeky, suggestive track that caused a stir with its thinly veiled sexual innuendos. Produced by Harry Robinson and Junior Smith, the song was banned by many broadcasters, yet it became a defining moment in Romeo’s career—marking him as a fearless and provocative voice in Jamaican music.

Rather than back down, Max leaned into the controversy. In a 2023 interview with YouTuber Teach Dem, he recalled how the uproar surrounding Wet Dream only motivated him further. He went on to release other audacious titles like Play with Your Py*, Py Watchman*, and Wine Her Goosie, cementing his reputation as a rebel with rhythm.

But Romeo’s contributions to Jamaican culture went far beyond the provocative. With a career spanning over five decades—from his first recordings in 1967 to his last releases in 2022—he built a powerful catalogue of roots reggae that chronicled the struggles, hopes, and political awakenings of his people. Songs like War Ina Babylon and One Step Forward became anthems for resistance and resilience, blending haunting melodies with razor-sharp social commentary.

Romeo was not just a musician—he was a man of the people. In the 1970s, he became closely associated with the Jamaican political party People’s National Party (PNP), using his platform to support the political movement that promised change for Jamaica’s marginalised communities. His song Let the Power Fall on I became the PNP’s campaign anthem in the 1972 general election, and he toured the island with fellow artistes and activists, spreading a message of empowerment and unity.

In a statement released following his death, PNP Opposition Spokesperson on Culture and Creative Industries, Dr Deborah Hickling Gordon, hailed Romeo as “a cultural revolutionary whose music spoke truth to power and uplifted the oppressed.”

In 2023, Max made headlines once again when he filed a $15 million (Sh1,94billion) lawsuit against Universal Music Group and Polygram Publishing, Inc., claiming he had not received royalties for more than 50 years of work. It was a stark reminder of the exploitation faced by many pioneering artistes, even those as influential as Romeo.