Max Romeo, Roots Reggae Pioneer, Dies at 80

(headline image: Max Romeo – Photo by Peter Simon)

Jamaican roots reggae artist Max Romeo died on April 11, 2025, at the age of 80. Born on November 22, 1944, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, he launched his career in the early 1960s as a member of the vocal group The Emotions.

His breakthrough came in 1968 with the provocative single “Wet Dream,” produced by Bunny “Striker” Lee. Though banned by the BBC for its explicit lyrics, the song became a hit and marked Romeo’s emergence as a solo artist.

By the 1970s, Romeo had shifted toward politically and spiritually conscious roots reggae material, aligning with the growing Rastafari movement. He founded his own labels, first Romax, then Charmax, and began a landmark collaboration with producer Lee “Scratch” Perry. Together, they created a trilogy of acclaimed albums: Revelation Time (1975), War in a Babylon (1976), and Reconstruction (1977), now considered cornerstones of the genre.

In his later years, Romeo remained active on the international stage, continuing to tour and record. Until his passing, he was celebrated as a commanding performer and a central figure in the global spread of Jamaican music.

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.