Remembering Johnny Nash
Nash’s biggest success came in 1972 with the release of “I Can See Clearly Now,” a reggae-influenced pop song that topped the charts
Remembering Johnny Nash
The American singer, songwriter, and actor Johnny Nash, best known for his smooth, soulful voice and his international hit “I Can See Clearly Now,” was born John Lester Nash Jr. on August 19, 1940, in Houston, Texas.
Nash began singing in church choirs as a child, and by his teens, he was performing locally. His professional music career took off in the mid-1950s when he signed with ABC-Paramount Records. Nash’s early work included pop ballads, and his first single, “A Teenager Sings the Blues,” was released in 1957. He gained modest success with covers of popular songs and original material, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that he truly began to make his mark.
In the early 1960s, Nash explored acting and appeared in films such as Take a Giant Step (1959) and Key Witness (1960). However, it was his music that brought him enduring fame. In the mid-1960s, Nash began to experiment with reggae music after visiting Jamaica. He was one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music, and his work helped to bring the genre to a broader audience. He also formed JAD Records with Danny Sims and Arthur Jenkins, signing and producing records for artists including a young Bob Marley.
Nash’s biggest success came in 1972 with the release of “I Can See Clearly Now,” a reggae-influenced pop song that topped the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. The song’s uplifting lyrics and catchy melody made it an instant classic, and it remains one of the most enduring hits of the 1970s. The album of the same name also included hits like “Stir It Up,” written by Bob Marley, further solidifying Nash’s influence in popularizing reggae.
After the peak of his career in the 1970s, Nash continued to record and perform, though he did so less frequently. He released albums sporadically, including Tears on My Pillow (1975) and Here Again (1986), but largely stepped away from the music industry by the 1990s.
Johnny Nash married Carlie Collins in 1958, and the couple had two children. Nash later remarried and had another child. He preferred to keep his personal life out of the spotlight, focusing instead on his family and music.
Johnny Nash passed away on October 6, 2020, at the age of 80 in Houston, Texas. His legacy as a pioneering artist who bridged the gap between reggae and pop music endures, and his timeless hit “I Can See Clearly Now” remains today as popular as it was when it was first released.
Look back at Johnny Nash performing his iconic song “I Can See Clearly Now” at The Midnight Special in 1973
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