Nora Dean, Jamaican singer, Died at 72

  Music

Nora Dean was born in 1944, in Spanish Town and died on September 29, 2016.

She was a Jamaican reggae and later gospel recording artist.

Nora was best known for her 1970 hit “Barbwire”.

She recorded as a member of The Soulettes (with Rita Marley) and The Ebony Sisters before recording as a solo artist.

Nora Dean recorded for Lee “Scratch” Perry, including the 1969 single “The Same Thing That You Gave to Daddy”.

She had her first hit in 1970 for producer Byron Smith with “Barbwire”, based on The Techniques’ “You Don’t Care”.

Dean enjoyed further success with “Night Food Reggae”.

Nora Dean went on to record for Sonia Pottinger, Harry Mudie (“Let Me Tell You Boy”), and Bunny Lee, including a version of “Que Sera Sera”, retitled “Kay Sarah”.

Nora Dean contributed backing vocals to Jimmy Cliff’s 1973 album Unlimited.

He moved to New York City in the mid-1970s, where she married.

Then following several years away from music she returned in the 1980s, singing in a lovers rock style.

During the 1990s she began recording again, now concentrating on gospel music, releasing several albums in the years that followed.

Nora Dean moved to Connecticut in 2010.

Nora Dean passed away at 72 years old.