Singer Ronnie Davis is dead
Singer Ronnie Davis, who was a member of The Tennors and The Itals, died Wednesday in the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in his native Westmoreland.
His daughter, Shauna Bellin, told Splash that Davis, 66, suffered a massive stroke Monday afternoon and was admitted to hospital.
He did not recover and passed away Wednesday evening.
Davis was best known for his work with The Itals, a roots reggae group which had a following in Europe, thanks to songs like In A Dis Ya Time.
Prior to joining The Itals, he worked with The Tennors, who had a big hit with Pressure And Slide.
Davis’s fifth solo album, yahcoustic, was released last August by Skinny Bwoy Records. It is produced by Henry Buckley Jnr, owner of that label.
“Ronnie was an extremely humble man. He was always open to suggestions, even from a younger man like me. He gave it his all whether he was recording vocals, making a video, or taking photos,” Buckley told Splash.
For the unplugged Iyahcoustic, Davis (real name Jerome Bellin) worked with respected session guitarist Mitchum “Khan” Chin and percussionist Congo Billy on songs such as No Weak Heart, False Leaders, and Got To Go Home.
— Howard Campbell