Reggae artist Joseph (Jo Jo) Bennett of the Sattalites dies at 81

TORONTO – Reggae musician Joseph (Jo Jo) Bennett, a founding member of the Sattalites, has died. He was 81.

Bandmate and friend Fergus Hambleton says the Jamaican-born horn player passed away Tuesday, “peacefully in his sleep” of natural causes.

Bennett was a core member of the Juno Award-winning group whose heyday in the late ’80s and ’90s earned MuchMusic rotation and included the reggae-pop hit, “Gimme Some Kind of Sign.”

Bandmates included Bennett’s son, Paul, as well as David Fowler, Bruce McGillivray, Neville Francis, Rick Morrison, Bruce Robinson and Felix Taylor.

Hambleton says Bennett last performed with the group in 2019, but before that played a weekly showcase with the Sattalites until 2014.

He says he expects there may be some kind of musical tribute in the future, noting “a lot of people in Toronto” played with Bennett.

“We’re going to miss him tremendously,” Hambleton said Friday.

“He brought a lot of joy to people with his horn playing and his very encouraging attitude towards music and life.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2021.