Legendary American Blues guitarist Donald Kinsey, who recorded and toured with Reggae greats Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, has died.
Kinsey died in Indiana in the United States at the age of 70 on February 6, which marked Marley’s 79th birthday. His death came three days after legendary Wailers bassist, Aston “Family Man” Barrett died on February 3 in Miami.
Kinsey began playing and performing as a young child, and he joined his father, bluesman Lester “Big Daddy” Kinsey in Big Daddy Kinsey and his Fabulous Sons when he was just six or seven years old.
With his early proficiency in the blues, Kinsey was billed as “B.B. King Jr.” as a child. Straight out of high school, he began touring with Albert King, playing guitar and soon leading the blues legend’s band.
Later, he formed White Lightnin’ with his brother, Ralph. The band was signed to Island Records, and through that connection, Kinsey discovered reggae music and had a chance to meet two of its greats, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh in 1975.
Career with The Wailers
Kinsey played guitar on Tosh’s iconic debut, 1976’s “Legalize It,” and he toured with Tosh in support of the album. He also joined Bob Marley and the Wailers on their “Rastaman Vibration” album that same year, which later became the 48th best-selling album on the Billboard Soul Charts.
Though Kinsey is considered an integral part of that classic album, he didn’t stay with the band. In December 1976, when gunmen entered Marley’s home and attempted to assassinate him, Kinsey was there. He was able to evade gunfire and performed with the band at the free concert Smile Jamaica two days later.
Kinsey took a break from the band but returned to touring, supporting both Tosh and American gospel group Staple Singers.
In 1984, Kinsey, his brothers, and their father formed the Kinsey Report, recording and performing together for many years. In later years, he rejoined The Wailers Band, a spinoff of Bob Marley and the Wailers which was formed by Aston Barrett in 1989.
In 2020, The Wailers Band, including Donald, released One World, on Sony Music Latin. Produced by Emilio Estefan, One World was Grammy-nominated in the category Best Reggae Album.
Read more: Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, former bassist of Bob Marley & The Wailers, has died
