Stranger Cole, the Legendary Jamaican artist and one of the pioneers of Ska and Rocksteady, has died. Stranger Cole, known for hits like Bangarang and Just Like a River, Madness, Arte Bella, Crying Every Night, Rough and Tough, died on June 11, 2026, at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica (Jamaica Observer).
He was 83 years old.
His son, drummer Wilburn “Squiddly” Cole, has confirmed the news. He stated that his dad had been a patient in the hospital two weeks earlier after a prolonged period of illness.
Nevertheless, “Squiddly” Cole did not mention the official cause of death.
Wilburn Theodore Cole was born in Kingston, Jamaica on July 26, 1942. His parents gave him the nickname “Stranger” because they felt he did not resemble any other family member.
Stranger Cole became one of the pioneers of Ska and Rocksteady
Stranger Cole grew up in Trench Town, Kingston. He became one of the most recognizable voices of Jamaica’s ska and rocksteady eras.
Cole’s career spanned over six decades, 1962-2026. During this time, he worked with legendary producers such as Duke Reid, Prince Buster, and Lee “Scratch” Perry. He also collaborated with artists including Ken Boothe, Patsy Todd, and Lester Sterling. Caribbean National Weekly.
Cole was initially successful as a songwriter, writing “In and out the Window”, which was a hit for Eric “Monty” Morris. This success gave him the chance to make his recording debut in 1962. He instantly found success with singles such as “Rough and Tough” and “When You Call My Name” (a duet with Patsy Todd) for producer Arthur “Duke” Reid.
Further success followed with singles for Reid through to the mid-1960s. He also worked with other producers at this time, including Clement “Coxsone” Dodd (a duet with Ken Boothe, and Prince Buster).
Stranger Cole loved to record duets because he was shy
Other duets included recordings with Gladstone Anderson (on “Just Like a River”) and Hortense Ellis.
His tendency to record duets was due to his shyness when it came to singing alone.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he recorded with several producers, including Bunny Lee, Lee “Scratch” Perry, and Sonia Pottinger. These included other duets with Patsy Todd, as “Stranger & Patsy.”
In 1971, Cole emigrated to the United Kingdom, where he toured extensively. Later, in 1973 he moved to Canada, settling in Toronto.
He took on various jobs, including working as a machinist at the Tonka Toy factory. Later, he opened a record store, the first Caribbean shop in Toronto’s Kensington Market area.
His first album, “Forward” in the Land of Sunshine, was released in 1976. A handful of other albums were released over the next ten years, mostly on his own label.
Stranger Cole is credited with being one of the first artists to record a reggae song, with Bangarang in 1968. This is according to Far Out Magazine.
He leaves behind seven children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.