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Legendary singer, producer and sound owner Lincoln 'Sugar' Minott is dead at age 64. Sugar Minott, who was born Lincoln Barrington Minott on May 25, 1956, earned himself the title Godfather of Dancehall. Sugar is credited with being the pioneer, by laying vocal tracks over the original tapes from the 1960's, rather than using a live band, as was the norm in those days, caused a revolution in the sound that brought a new style to Reggae music known as dancehall.

A prolific songwriter and singer, Sugar Minott is has over 60 albums and is known for such anthems as Herbsman Hustling, Mr DC, House is not a Home, No Vacancy, Good Thing Going and Never Gonna Give Up Jah. The veteran singer also distinguished himself as a talent scout/producer and early on in his career established his Black Roots label, which led to the creation of a sound system and a company, Youthman Promotions.

Youthman Promotions was responsible for artistes such as Little John, Triston Palmer, Barry Brown, Tony Tuff, Junior Reid, Yami Bolo, Don Angelo, Tenor Saw, Nitty Gritty, Garnet Silk who did his first recording for the Black Roots label, Tony Rebel, Colorman, Daddy Freddie and Johnny Osbourne.

According to Peter Burke, a close associate of the singer, Sugar Minott had complained of feeling ill on Saturday and was taken to the hospital where he died at minutes after 10 pm.  Burke said, "Sugar had a heart condition and it was about a year and a half ago that he got the first scare. He was in Canada at the time and I was with him. But as soon as the flutters subsided, Sugar was back to being his old self. That is just how he is." Burke continued by saying, "This is just so sudden and unexpected. Sugar Minott has made a major contribution to the music business (and) he was truly an icon and I am going to miss him tremendously."

Sugar Minott co-produced Junior 'One Blood' Reid's first international hit, Foreign Mind. In remembering Sugar Minott Junior Reid said, "Him gi a lot a strength to the music but neva get a lot a love from the business." In an interview in 2003, Minott said he was disappointed that his career never took off internationally. He blamed that on poor management and unprofessional record labels. "Independent companies don't market the artiste, they market the albums," Sugar said. "If yuh don't have a label like a Virgin or a Columbia wey promote the artiste, then forget it."