The world mourns the loss of William “Bunny Rugs” Clarke, the husky-voiced lead singer of reggae band Third World. According to close friend and former band mate, Colin Leslie, Clark died on Sunday at his home in Orlando just four days shy of his 66 birthday. Bunny Rugs was released last week from a hospital after cancer treatment.
Clarke worked with band Inner Circle and top reggae producer Lee “Scratch” Perry in Jamaica before joining Third World in 1976.
The group was signed to Island Records and had hits in U.K. and U.S. charts including “Now That We Found Love,” “Always Around” and “Reggae Ambassador.” Stevie Wonder wrote and produced the band’s 1982 song “Try Jah Love.”
Drummer Willie Stewart said Monday that the fun-loving Clarke “always had a joke.”
He is survived by his wife and eight children.
#RIPBunnyRugs
