Bunny Wyler, co-founder and final surviving member of the Jamaican reggae group Wheelers, who took the bomb Marley to global stardom, has died at the age of 73.
His manager, Max Xin Stowe, confirmed his death to the Jamaican Server. Wheeler was repeatedly hospitalized after suffering a stroke in July 2020.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Reverend Andrew Holness, offered his deepest condolences to his family, friends and fans, and described his death as “a great loss to Jamaica and Reg.”
Neville Livingston, born in Kingston in 1947, became friends with him and Marley Toddlers, and formed Wheelers in 1963, settling into the pair’s main trio with Peter Toshni. Marley U.S. Before moving to Hita when he moved to Delaware, he released his debut album, The Welling Wheelers, in 1965 (including his Jamaican chart-topper Simmer Down). Weiler was convicted in 1967 of possession of marijuana, and sentenced to 14 months.
Producer Lee “Scratch” reunited with Perry and his group of upsetters after Marley’s return and Weiler’s reunion, and began recording tracks in a new, slower reggae style that came out of Ska. Weiler wrote many of the group’s songs, including his signature song, Dreamland.
In the early 70’s, Weiler added new members and signed Island Records, which – aided by the popularity of other new reggae stars like Jimmy Cliff – helped bring them into the international audience. They achieved global success with their fifth album, Catch a Fire (1973) and its successor, Bernin, which featured Marley’s signature song, I Will Be the Sheriff.
The original trio split in 1974, when Weiler left with Toshni. He began his solo career with the acclaimed Blackheart Man of 1976 and maintained a continuous publishing schedule for 40 years. Received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album three times in 1991, 1995 and 1997.
