Cocoa Tea

2025-10-23T03:13:05Z

2601:602:B00:630:8893:6CBB:A7A4:321B: /* Life and career */

{{Short description|Jamaican musician (1959–2025)}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Cocoa Tea
| image = Cocoa Tea at B.B.King in New York on September 14, 2004.jpg
| caption = Tea performing in 2004
| image_size =
| birth_name = Colvin George Scott
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|09|03|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Rocky Point, Jamaica|Rocky Point]], [[Clarendon Parish, Jamaica|Clarendon]], [[Colony of Jamaica|Jamaica]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|03|11|1959|09|03|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Fort Lauderdale]], [[Florida]], U.S.
| origin = Hayes, Clarendon, Jamaica
| instrument = Vocals
| genre = [[Reggae]], [[roots reggae]]
| label = [[VP Records]], [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]], Volcano, Cornerstone, Roaring Lion
| years_active = 1974–2022
}}

'''Colvin George Scott''' (3 September 1959 – 11 March 2025), better known as '''Cocoa Tea''', was a Jamaican [[reggae]] singer and songwriter.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p29887/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Cocoa Tea|last=Huey|first=Steve|website=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=14 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20250311/veteran-reggae-singer-cocoa-tea-has-died|title=Veteran reggae singer Cocoa Tea has died|date=11 March 2025|website=Jamaica-gleaner.com|access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref>

==Life and career==
Born was in the fishing village of [[Rocky_Point,_Jamaica|Rocky Point]], [[Clarendon Parish, Jamaica]] on 3 September 1959,<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|page=119}}</ref> Cocoa Tea was one of the most popular singers in [[Jamaica]] from the 1980s onwards, achieving significant worldwide success in the reggae world.

He made his first venture into the music industry at only 14 years of age in 1974, when he released "Searching In The Hills" for Willie Francis' Little Willie label.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5799578-Calvin-Scott-Searching-In-The-Hills |title=Calvin Scott - Searching in the Hills |website=discogs.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250311160803/https://www.discogs.com/release/5799578-Calvin-Scott-Searching-In-The-Hills |archive-date=11 March 2025}}</ref> When the song failed to hit the young Colvin gave up on the music industry for a while, and spent time working as both a jockey and a fisherman over the next few years.<ref name="reggaeville_bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/cocoa-tea/about/ |title=Cocoa Tea |website=Reggaeville |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250311161130/https://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/cocoa-tea/about/|archive-date=11 March 2025}}</ref> Unable to stay away for too long he gained experience singing live on various [[Sound_system_(Jamaican)|sound systems]] before eventually finding his way to [[Henry "Junjo" Lawes]] Volcano label in 1984, where he scored big hits with first "Rocking Dolly" and later "I Lost My Sonia", under the name Cocoa Tea.<ref name="reggaeville_bio" />

From there his career continued to progress, leading to overseas tours and working with many other Jamaican producers.<ref name="reggaeville_bio" /> Some of his biggest hits of this period include "Young Lover" and "Children of the Ghetto" for the [[King Jammy|Jammys]] label, as well as "Holding On" in collaboration with Home T and [[Shabba Ranks]] for [[Gussie Clarke]]'s Music Works. In 1990 he was released the hit "Rikers Island" on the Mr Doo imprint,<ref name="Larkin80"/> inspired by [[John Holt (singer)|John Holt]]'s 1977 song "Up Park Camp", with re-worked lyrics referencing the [[Rikers Island]] prison in New York City as a warning to young Jamaican immigrants of the time. He also voiced a version in combination with Nardo Ranks titled "Me No Like Rikers Island", which featured on the 1991 Columbia/SME Records compilation album, ''Dancehall Reggaespañol''.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

His success continued into the 1990s, with songs such as "Bust Outta Hell" again for Junjo, "Tune In" for Jammys, as well as working with new producers such as [[Philip "Fatis" Burrell]] on "Good Life" and "She Loves Me Now", and [[Bobby Digital (Jamaican producer)|Bobby 'Digital' Dixon]] for "Moving On", "Heathen" and "No Threat".{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Many of these productions found their way onto albums released by international labels such as [[VP Records]], [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]] and [[Ras Records]]. By this stage he had established himself as one of the top singers in the reggae world, and remained a favourite with fans, performing at almost every [[Reggae Sunsplash]].<ref name="reggaeville_bio" />

In 1997 he launched his own label, Roaring Lion Records,<ref name="CCL" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/80644-Roaring-Lion-Records|title=Roaring Lion Records |website=Discogs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250311165558/https://www.discogs.com/label/80644-Roaring-Lion-Records|archive-date=11 March 2025}}</ref> which achieved a good deal of success, releasing songs by some of the top artists on the island including [[Buju Banton]], Louie Culture, [[Capleton]], [[Cutty Ranks]], [[Sizzla]] and of course "Sweet Sweet" Cocoa Tea himself. He gained notoriety in March 2008 after releasing a song titled "Barack Obama" on the label in support of the US [[presidential candidate]] of the same name. Cocoa Tea's song "Jah Made Them That Way" from his 1984 album ''Rocking Dolly'', interpolates [[Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)|"Human Nature"]] by [[Michael Jackson]] and "Answer Mi Question" by [[Dillinger (musician)|Dillinger]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

He initiated the annual New Year's Eve events Dancehall Jam Jam in 2003 which ran until 2009.
<ref name="CCL">
{{cite news
|date=1 October 2014
|title=Cocoa Tea Looks to Sunset in Negril
|last=Campbell-Livingston
|first=Cecelia
|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Cocoa-Tea-looks-to-Sunset-In-Negril_17654370
|work=Jamaica Observer
|location=Jamaica
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054741/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Cocoa-Tea-looks-to-Sunset-In-Negril_17654370/
|archive-date=4 March 2016
}}</ref>

Cocoa Tea died from a cardiac arrest on 11 March 2025, at the age of 65.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Claude |date=11 March 2025 |title=Reggae Legend Cocoa Tea Dead At 65 |url=https://www.dancehallmag.com/2025/03/11/news/reggae-legend-cocoa-tea-dead-at-65.html |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=Dancehallmag.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Albums===
* ''Weh Dem A Go Do...Can't Stop Cocoa Tea'' (1984), Volcano
* ''I Lost My Sonia'' (1985), Volcano
* ''Settle Down'' (1985), Corner Stone
* ''Mr. Coco Tea'' (1985), Corner Stone
* ''Sweet Sweet Coco Tea'' (1985), Blue Mountain
* ''The Marshall'' (1985), Jammy's
* ''Cocoa Tea'' (1986), Jimpy's
* ''Come Again'' (1987), Jammy's
* ''Rikers Island'' (1991), [[VP Records|VP]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rikers-island-mw0000174518|title=Cocoa Tea - Rikers Island|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Rocking Dolly'' (1991), RAS
* ''Authorized'' (1991), [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/authorized-mw0000093250|title=Cocoa Tea - Authorized|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Kingston Hot'' (1992), RAS
* ''I Am the Toughest'' (1992), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-am-the-toughest-mw0000171351|title=Cocoa Tea - I Am the Toughest|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Weh Dem A Go Do - Can't Stop Cocoa Tea'' (1992), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Coco-Tea-Weh-Dem-A-Go-Do-Cant-Stop-Coco-Tea/release/9283148|title=Cocoa Tea - Weh Dem A Go Do - Can't Stop Cocoa Tea|date=21 November 1992 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''One Up'' (1993), Greensleeves <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-up-mw0000171279|title=Cocoa Tea - One Up|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Good Life'' (1994), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/good-life-mw0000171278|title=Cocoa Tea - Good Life|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Sweet Love'' (1994), VP
* ''Tune In'' (1994), Greensleeves <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Cocoa-Tea-Tune-In/release/1519168|title=Cocoa Tea - Tune In|date=21 November 1994 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Can't Live So'' (1994), Shanachie
* ''Come Love Me'' (1995), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Cocoa-Tea-Come-Love-Me/release/5030752|title=Cocoa Tea - Come Love Me|date=21 November 1995 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Israel's King'' (1996), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Cocoa-Tea-Israels-King/release/5217440|title=Cocoa Tea - Israel's King|date=21 November 1996 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Holy Mount Zion'' (1997), [[Motown]]
* ''One Way'' (1998), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-way-mw0000601385|title=Cocoa Tea - One Way|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Unforgettable'' (2000), Roaring Lion
* ''Feel the Power'' (2001), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/feel-the-power-mw0000012784|title=Cocoa Tea - Feel the Power|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>
* ''Tek Weh Yuh Gal'' (2004), Kings of Kings
* ''Save Us Oh Jah'' (2006), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Cocoa-Tea-Save-Us-Oh-Jah/master/151180|title=Cocoa Tea - Save Us Oh Jah|date=21 November 2023 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Biological Warfare'' (2007), Minor7Flat5
* ''Yes We Can'' (2009), Roaring Lion
* ''In a Di Red'' (2012), VP
* ''Sunset in Negril'' (2014), Roaring Lion

===Split albums===
* ''Corner Stone Presents Clash Of The 80's'' (1986), Corner Stone - Cocoa Tea & [[Barrington Levy]]
* ''Clash'' (1985), Hawkeye - [[Tenor Saw]] & Cocoa Tea
* ''Showdown Vol 8'' (1986), Hitbound - [[Frankie Paul]] & Cocoa Tea
* ''Another One for the Road'' (1991), [[Greensleeves Records|Greensleeves]] - Home T, Cocoa Tea, and [[Cutty Ranks]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Home-T-Cocoa-Tea-Cutty-Ranks-Another-One-For-The-Road/release/1473876|title=Cocoa Tea - Another One for the Road|date=21 November 1991 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Holding On'' (1991), VP - Cocoa Tea, [[Shabba Ranks]], and Home T, a.k.a. ''Pirate's Anthem'' <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Home-T-Cocoa-Tea-Shabba-Ranks-Holding-On/release/3718498|title=Cocoa Tea - Holding On|date=8 September 2019 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Sanchez Meets Cocoa Tea'' (1993), [[Jet Star (record distribution company)|Jet Star]] - with [[Sanchez (singer)|Sanchez]]
* ''Legit'' (1993), [[Shanachie Records|Shananchie]] - Cocoa Tea, [[Freddie McGregor]], and [[Dennis Brown]]
* ''Israel Vibration Meets Cocoa Tea'' (1999), Cactus
* ''Another One For The Road (Greensleeves 30th Anniversary Edition)'' (2007), Greensleeves - Home T, Cocoa Tea, and [[Cutty Ranks]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Home-T-Cocoa-Tea-Cutty-Ranks-Another-One-For-The-Road/release/2853390|title=Cocoa Tea - Another One For The Road (Greensleeves 30th Anniversary Edition)|date=21 November 2023 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>

===Compilation albums===
* ''20 Tracks of Cocoa Tea'' (1991), Sonic Sounds
* ''RAS Portraits'' (1997), RAS.
* ''In His Early Days'' (1998), Corner Stone
* ''Best Of'' (1999), Socadisc
* ''Reggae Legends Vol 3'' (1999), Artists Only
* ''Kings of Reggae'' (2002), Nocturne
* ''Live in Jamaica'' (2002), Sankofa
* ''Reggae Anthology: The Sweet Sound of Cocoa Tea'' (2008), 17 North Parade <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Cocoa-Tea-The-Sweet-Sound-Of-Cocoa-Tea/release/1952156|title=Cocoa Tea - The Sweet Sound Of Cocoa Tea|date=21 November 2023 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''Reggae Legends'' (2009), 17 North Parade <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/ja/Cocoa-Tea-Reggae-Legends/release/1971845|title=Cocoa Tea - Reggae Legends|date=21 November 2023 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref>
* ''The Best of Cocoa Tea'' (2012), Jammy's
* ''Music is Our Business'' (2019), VP <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/music-is-our-business-mw0003242407|title=Cocoa Tea - Music Is Our Business|publisher=Allmusic}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
His song "We Do The Killing" was sampled in the [[Pendulum (drum and bass band)|Pendulum]] song "Set Me On Fire", which is included on their album ''[[Immersion (Pendulum album)|Immersion]]''.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.vprecords.com/cocoa-tea/ Cocoa Tea], Biography of Cocoa Tea
* [http://www.artistsonly.com/cocoa.htm Cocoa Tea], Artists Only! Records
* {{imdb name|7623099}}
* {{discogs artist|Cocoa Tea}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cocoa Tea}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:Jamaican dancehall musicians]]
[[Category:Jamaican reggae musicians]]
[[Category:Musicians from Clarendon Parish, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Greensleeves Records artists]]
[[Category:VP Records artists]]

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Cocoa Tea