Tony Tuff

Born Winston Anthony Morris, Tony Tuff was a foundational voice in the Jamaican roots reggae and early dancehall movements. He began his career in the late 1960s as a founding member of the vocal trio The African Brothers, singing alongside Sugar Minott and Derrick "Bubbles" Howard. Transitioning to a solo career during the rub-a-dub era, he recorded major sound system anthems like "Come Fe Mash It" and "Water Pumpee." When we began building the Easy Star Records catalog, his deep ties to the reggae community made him a natural collaborator, starting with our inclusion of his track "Mary Ann" on the Sugar Minott's Hidden Treasures compilation. Over the years, Tuff contributed to several key projects across our roster. We worked together to reissue the full-length African Brothers album, Want Some Freedom, ensuring his earliest work remained accessible. He also stepped into the booth to record the original track "Wanty Wanty" for our Easy Star Volume 2: Dancehall Culture compilation, and later joined The Meditations and Lady Ann for "Easy Now Star" on the Easy Star All-Stars' original album, First Light. Up until his passing in April 2024, he remained a consistent, professional, and highly valued part of our label's history.