He was probably the most discreet of the three members of the Heptones: Barry Llewellyn has left us. He passed away yesterday morning at Kingston Public Hospital, where he had been taken after complaining of pain.
"Barry Heptone", as he was sometimes credited on sleeves, founded The Hep Ones in 1965 with Leroy Sibbles and Earl Morgan, soon to become The Heptones.
Barry Llewellyn was part of all of the group's successes: Fattie Fattie in 1966, Country boy, Mama Say, the classic albums "Party Time" and "Night Food"… He is the one who sings the hit Book Of Rules, which he also co-wrote.
When Leroy Sibbles went solo in the late 70s, the group slowly faded until a reunion in 1995. But then it was Earl Morgan's turn to take leave of his partners, and the recent tours of one of Jamaica's most famous vocal trios were handled by Leroy Sibbles and Barry Llewellyn (read our reports from 2007 and June 2010). They had played the Reggae Sun Ska stage this summer.