Johnny Nash, an American reggae and pop music singer-songwriter, best known in the US for the 1972 hit, “I Can See Clearly Now,” died Tuesday at his home, his son confirmed to CBS Los Angeles. He was 80.
Born in Houston, Nash started singing as a child at Progressive New Hope Baptist Church. He made his major label debut in 1957 with the single “A Teenager Sings the Blues.”
His first chart hit was a cover of Doris Day’s “A Very Special Love,” in early 1958, but his claim to fame was the 1972 reggae-influenced single “I Can See Clearly Now.” The single sold over one million copies, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Nov. 4, 1972 and remained atop the chart for four weeks.
* His song got a whole lot of people through a whole lot of pain, including me…
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for
Please keep your discussion local and be kind to each other. Thanks.
Losing Johnny Nash and Toots Hibbert in the same year just stinks. Reggae music always helps our news room see it through tough times. Thanks for the spotlight on Nash. He got overlooked with the passing of Eddie Van Halen yesterday. A tragic loss to our guitar playing friends. I was hoping EVH would beat back the cancer. Peace to all in this truly awful year.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 8:47 am:
RIP Johnny Nash. The song, “I Can See Clearly Now,” is so much a part of Americana. Lots of people from different generations have heard it.
RIP also to Helen Reddy and Mac Davis, who also recently passed on the same date.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 8:58 am:
Yesterday was a kick in the rear for music lovers. Eddie Van Halen and Johnny both left us. 2020 needs to be done and over with.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 9:57 am:
The soundtrack of my younger days is slowly fading way.
Why so many musicians??????
Why?Why?Why?
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 10:06 am:
My wife and I were talking about Johnny Nash last night and she told me a story about I can see clearly now. She was on a car trip with her dad and they were listing to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 when the long distance dedication came on. The woman who wrote in asked to play I can see clearly now because that was the song her late father sang to her when she was a little girl. Now, whenever she hears that song, Mrs. Bidenopolous thinks of the woman who wrote the letter and her dad. Touching.
From my perspective, I saw Trey Anastasio in a very small setting decades ago and he covered the song beautifully
The Mazzochi-Zordani race has produced an unbelievable amount of mailers. For well over a month, nearly every single day I have received at least one mailer from each of them and several times, have received more than one on the same day for the same candidate.
The music from the early 70s era had a huge impact on me during my formative years. “I Can See Clearly” has always been a favorite for its unbridled optimism. That time produced the best music ever. The quality and variety of the songs and the talent of those who brought them to us has been unmatched since.
Thanks Mr. Nash for one of the most uplifting songs ever.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:08 pm:
From Houston? And I always thought he was a native Jamaican, because his reggae seemed so authentic in a time when the music was still new to U.S. ears. RIP Johnny.
RIP Johnny Nash. I can See Clearly Now has gotten me through some sad times. We have lost another good, good man today. The grief keeps on rolling in. Hang together my friends, clear skies will come again.
- WLDS News - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 7:28 am:
Losing Johnny Nash and Toots Hibbert in the same year just stinks. Reggae music always helps our news room see it through tough times. Thanks for the spotlight on Nash. He got overlooked with the passing of Eddie Van Halen yesterday. A tragic loss to our guitar playing friends. I was hoping EVH would beat back the cancer. Peace to all in this truly awful year.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 8:47 am:
RIP Johnny Nash. The song, “I Can See Clearly Now,” is so much a part of Americana. Lots of people from different generations have heard it.
RIP also to Helen Reddy and Mac Davis, who also recently passed on the same date.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 8:58 am:
Yesterday was a kick in the rear for music lovers. Eddie Van Halen and Johnny both left us. 2020 needs to be done and over with.
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 9:57 am:
The soundtrack of my younger days is slowly fading way.
Why so many musicians??????
Why?Why?Why?
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 10:06 am:
My wife and I were talking about Johnny Nash last night and she told me a story about I can see clearly now. She was on a car trip with her dad and they were listing to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 when the long distance dedication came on. The woman who wrote in asked to play I can see clearly now because that was the song her late father sang to her when she was a little girl. Now, whenever she hears that song, Mrs. Bidenopolous thinks of the woman who wrote the letter and her dad. Touching.
From my perspective, I saw Trey Anastasio in a very small setting decades ago and he covered the song beautifully
- Father Ted - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 10:59 am:
The Mazzochi-Zordani race has produced an unbelievable amount of mailers. For well over a month, nearly every single day I have received at least one mailer from each of them and several times, have received more than one on the same day for the same candidate.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:35 am:
Thank you, Johnny Nash…Rest in peace.
- Captain Obvious - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 11:52 am:
The music from the early 70s era had a huge impact on me during my formative years. “I Can See Clearly” has always been a favorite for its unbridled optimism. That time produced the best music ever. The quality and variety of the songs and the talent of those who brought them to us has been unmatched since.
- Rabble - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 12:01 pm:
Thanks Mr. Nash for one of the most uplifting songs ever.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 1:08 pm:
From Houston? And I always thought he was a native Jamaican, because his reggae seemed so authentic in a time when the music was still new to U.S. ears. RIP Johnny.
- Froganon - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 5:43 pm:
RIP Johnny Nash. I can See Clearly Now has gotten me through some sad times. We have lost another good, good man today. The grief keeps on rolling in. Hang together my friends, clear skies will come again.
- Barnaby Wilde - Wednesday, Oct 7, 20 @ 8:15 pm:
That was the first reggae song most of us boomers ever heard. Upful reasoning!