This article is about the singer-songwriter. For other uses, see Johnny Nash (disambiguation).
Musical artist
John Lester Nash Jr. (August 19, 1940 – October 6, 2020)[2] was an American singer and songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit "I Can See Clearly Now".[3] Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston.[4]
Early life
Nash was born on August 19, 1940, in Houston, Texas, the son of Eliza (Armstrong) and John Lester Nash.[5] He sang in the choir at Progressive New Hope Baptist Church in South Central Houston as a child.[6][7] Beginning in 1953, Nash sang covers of R&B hits on Matinee, a local variety show on KPRC-TV;[6][7] from 1956 he sang on Arthur Godfrey's radio and television programs for a seven-year period.[6]
Personal life
Nash was married three times, and had two children.[8]
Career
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I Can See Clearly Now
For the albums, see I Can See Clearly Now (Johnny Nash album) and I Can See Clearly Now (Gospel Gangstaz album).
Bob Marley song sung by Johnny Nash
"I Can See Clearly Now" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. It was the lead single from his twelfth album, I Can See Clearly Now (1972), and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdom when it was released in 1972, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box charts. It also reached number one in Canada and South Africa. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including a hit version by Lee Towers that reached no. 19 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1982, and another recorded by Jimmy Cliff for the motion picture soundtrack of Cool Runnings that peaked at no. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.
Writing and recording
After Nash wrote and composed the original version, he recorded it in London with members of the Fabulous Five Inc.,[1] and produced it himself. The song's arrangeme
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Johnny Nash: I Can See Clearly Now singer dies aged 80
BBC
American reggae and pop singer-songwriter Johnny Nash, best known for the 1972 hit I Can See Clearly Now, has died aged 80, his family has said.
Nash, whose health had been in decline, died at his home of natural causes on Tuesday, his son told US media.
The musician began singing as a child and made his major label debut with the 1957 song A Teenager Sings the Blues.
Nash, born in Houston, was one of the first non-Jamaican singers to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica.
His single I Can See Clearly Now sold more than a million copies and reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972, where it remained for four weeks.
He also had a number one hit in the UK in 1975 with Tears on My Pillow.
According to his official website, Nash helped reggae legend Bob Marley sign a recording contract.
Nash's covers of songs like Stir It Up helped bring Marley's music to a broader audience, and the pair later collaborated on a track called You Poured Sugar On Me.