Millie Small was the first singer to expose Jamaican popular music on the international scene and the single, produced by Chris Blackwell's Island Records, reached number two in both the US and the UK in 1964.īorn in Clarendon, she was one of five sisters and seven brothers, raised on the sugar plantation where her father was an overseer.Īt the age of 12, she won a talent contest at the Palladium Theatre in Montego Bay and by her teens, she was recording for Sir Coxone Dodd's Studio One label in Kingston. May her music keep her memory alive forever. May the God of comfort bless your grieving hearts with strength, loving kindness and peace as the world copes with loss the of Ms.
Millie song 'My Boy Lollpop' is a song that many will NEVER be forgotten. Owen Gray, with whom Millie Small recorded her first song, told The Gleaner that while he was sad, he had a dream that had forewarned him. Deepest condolences to the Small family, many, many friends, and fans. She was a world icon and was also a lovely person. IN PHOTO: Millie Small with former Prime Minister Sir Alexander BustamanteĪnother foundation Jamaican artiste, Winston Francis, was saddened. She was in retirement for so long that she probably lost confidence,"Alcapone surmised. In 2016, Millie reflected on her incredible journey to worldwide singing sensation. Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.Īlcapone said that over the years, he had encouraged Small to get back on the stage, as several persons had reached out to him for shows with her. My Boy Lollipop was an enormous hit in 1964 and even featured in the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony. Millie Small, who has died aged 73, was a singer whose 1964 hit My Boy Lollipop became the first record to popularise ska music around the world it reached No 2 in both the UK and US charts and.