Black Music Sunday: Johnny Nash was so much more than his biggest hit

This week, Black Music Sunday falls on the fourth anniversary of the death of singer, songwriter, and actor Johnny Nash. Best known for the chart-topping hit “I Can See Clearly Now,” which was recorded in London in 1971 and released in 1972, Nash also played a key role in the development of reggae. 

Most folks wouldn’t associate reggae with a Texan, instead associating the genre with the island nation of Jamaica, and popular Jamaican reggae artists like Toots and the Maytals or Bob Marley and The Wailers. Yet Nash was not Jamaican, nor of Jamaican ancestry—he was born in 1940 in Houston, Texas.

And while his biggest hit may not be considered “strictly” reggae, it has been covered by multiple reggae artists, along with musicians from other genres, including R&B and pop.

”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over 230 stories covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.