'Ram Goat Liver' singer Pluto Shervington has died
Published:Friday | January 19, 2024 | 1:24 PM
Reggae singer, Pluto Shervington, has died.
A source confirmed to The Gleaner that he passed away minutes before 11 o'clock this morning in hospital in Florida. He was admitted on Thursday.
Shervington, who was born on August 13, 1950, began his career in the early 1970s as a member of the showband Tomorrow's Children. Inspired by the success of Ernie Smith's Duppy or a Gunman and Tinga Stewart's Play de Music, both delivered in heavy patois, he recorded in a similar style Ram Goat Liver, inspiring Lee 'Scratch' Perry to produce a popular version with Jimmy Riley.
The follow-up single, Dat – about a Rastafarian trying to buy pork (without naming it aloud), contrary to his faith, so that he can afford marijuana – achieved considerable chart success internationally in 1976, reaching the number six spot in the UK Singles Chart. Trojan Records capitalised on this success by reissuing his first single, which peaked just outside the top 40 in the UK.
Shervington also scored as a producer, overseeing the creation of the 1975 song Hooray Festival performed by Roman Stewart, and Midnight Rider by Paul Davidson, which peaked at number 10 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1975.
Shervington moved to Miami, Florida, in the early 1980s. He continued to record, and reached the UK top 20 again when Your Honour, originally recorded in 1975 but never previously released, was re-issued in early 1982 together with a new recording No Honour Among Tiefs. In 1997, as a guest of honour on Ernie Smith’s celebration of 30 years in the business, Shervington performed alongside Ken Lazarus and the surviving members of the Now Generation band at the Pegasus Hotel in Jamaica.
Again, in 2001, alongside Ernie Smith, Shervington performed together with the late musical veteran Lloyd Charmers at the Heineken Startime events for an Independence Showcase, which also included performances from The Abyssinians and Eric Donaldson.
Shervington often performs live in Miami, and periodically returns to his homeland for performances. As of 2007 he plays solo at Bahama Breeze in Kendall, Florida, and every other Sunday at Black Point Marina in Cutler Bay with a five-piece band. Pluto appeared at the St. Kitts Music Festival on Friday 22 June 2007, sharing the bill with Steel Pulse and Sean Paul, among others.
In addition to his work as a singer, Shervington gained a reputation as a talented bass guitarist, and as a recording engineer, notably engineering Little Roy's 1974 album, Tafari Earth Uprising. As of 2018, Shervington was performing solo multiple times a week at the Bahama Breeze when not on tour.