12/06/2026
We have just received the deeply sad news that Wilburn Theodore Cole, better known as Stranger Cole, has passed away. Cole was born in 1942 in Kingston, Jamaica, and went on to become a pioneer and legend of reggae and ska music.
From the early 1960s onwards, he recorded hundreds of tracks for virtually all the major Jamaican producers: Duke Reid, Prince Buster, Coxsone Dodd, Byron Lee, Joe Gibbs, Lee Perry, Leslie Kong, Bunny Lee, Sonia Pottinger and many others.
In addition to his extensive solo work, he formed successful duos with Hortense Ellis, Gladstone Anderson, Ken Boothe and Milliecent ‘Patsy’ Todd. With the latter, he went on to become a renowned international ska duo in the 1960s.
In 1968, Stranger Cole recorded the song ‘Bangarang’ alongside saxophonist Lester Sterling and the future hit producer Bunny Lee at the famous Treasure Isle studio. Many consider this to be the very first reggae song ever. His entire life was devoted to his love for reggae and ska music, and he continued to sing, perform and record right up until the very end.
Last year, at Stranger’s 83rd birthday, we released the album “Royal” on Aggrobeat Records. The album was recorded under the guidance of Dutch producer and composer Boss Capone (The Upsessions) by Stranger Cole and Patsy (Renske De Boer). Whilst we were working on this album, we realised what a privilege and a unique opportunity it was to be able to collaborate with this ska legend and reggae pioneer. The album ‘Royal’ was his first album of new material in twenty years. Although it is with sadness that we must now acknowledge that this was his final album we will always be grateful for the shared memories.
Stranger Cole's passing is confirmed by his son Wilburn "Squidly" Cole on social media: "I'm deeply sad to say my father passed away today 11:47am at the University Hospital in Kingston Jamaica. Daddy The Legendary Stranger Cole is now in Zion. We the Cole family would wish this moment of mourning to be private”.
We wish Stranger Cole’s family and loved ones much strength in the face of this great loss, and we remain grateful for his enormous contribution to the development of Jamaican music.
