world. Freedom, that's what it's asking for; acceptance, that's what it needs, and understanding, that's what reggae's saying. You have a certain love come from hard struggle, long suffering. Through pain you guard yourself with that hope of freedom, not to give up..."" Higgs died of cancer on 18 December 1999 at Kaiser Hospital in Los Angeles. At the time of his death he was working with Roger Steffens on an official biography, and had been working on a collaboration with Irish artists, including John Alexander Reed and Ronald Padget for the Green on Black album. He was survived by twelve children, including his daughter Marcia, who is a rapper, and son Peter, a studio guitarist. In 2006, the Joe Higgs Music Awards were established in his honour. Quotations From memorial website: "Joe Higgs was a brother amongst the Wailers for years. He was encouragement, and he inspired us and kept us together." - Peter Tosh (1976) "We looked up to Joe Higgs. He was something like a musical guardian for us. He was a more professional singer, because he was working for years with a fella named Roy Wilson as Higgs & Wilson. They had a lotta hits and they had the knowledge of the harmony techniques, so he taught us [The Wailers] them. And he helped in the studio, to work out our different parts." - Bunny Wailer (1980's) "Joe Higgs helped me understand that music. He taught me many things." - Bob Marley Discography Life of Contradiction (1975), Micron Unity is Power (1979), Island/1 Stop Triumph (1985), Alligator Family (1988), Shanachie Blackman Know Yourself (1990), Shanachie - Joe Higgs with the Wailers Band Joe and Marcia Together (1995) Contributions to other albums Negril (LP, 1975. Micron Music Ltd.) (CD, 2003. 3D Japan), session musician References External links Memorial Respect Is Overdue by Daniel & Seth Nelson Joe Higgs Music Awards Joe Higgs – The Godfather of Reggae 1940 births 1999 deaths Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican reggae musicians The Wailers members Island Records artists Deaths from cancer in California