On April 13, at the Triple T restaurant located in Jamaica’s St Andrew parish, educator and first-time author Peter Price found himself at the center of warm attention from a crowd of fans who adored the legendary reggae artist Gregory Isaacs. The occasion marked the Jamaican launch of Price’s deeply researched biography of the iconic “Cool Ruler,” a project that grew out of a years-long dream to introduce Isaacs’ life and artistry to new generations of listeners.
Titled *The Cool Ruler: The Incredible Life Story of Gregory Isaacs*, the 388-page book marks Price’s debut as an author. It carries the official endorsement of the Gregory Isaacs Foundation, an organization run by the late Grammy-nominated singer’s wife, June Isaacs, who was in attendance at the launch event to support the project.
In an interview with Observer Online, Price outlined his core vision for the biography: to resonate with long-time reggae and lovers rock fans who have long admired Isaacs’ work, while opening the door for younger audiences to discover the depth of his talent, his vast discography of beloved tracks, and his unmatched skill as both a songwriter and performer. Price, a native of Bamboo in St Ann and a graduate of Kingston’s Mico Teachers College, currently teaches English Language and Literature at Kingston College. He invested two full years into researching and writing the comprehensive biography, which first held its official launch in the United Kingdom one year prior, in May 2023.
Reflecting on the journey to publication at the Jamaican launch, Price shared his excitement: “I feel elated and fulfilled; for the simple fact that it was a dream in the making for many years and now it has become a relevant reality. My research into this literary project was extensive, but quite enjoyable.” A year before the Jamaican launch, Price joined a delegation that traveled to the UK for the six-show run of *The Cool Ruler: The Musical*, a stage production that cast Terrence Wallen in the role of the iconic singer, who passed away in London in October 2010 at the age of 60.
Following the narrative structure of the stage production, Price’s biography pulls no punches in covering the full arc of Isaacs’ life. It celebrates his many career triumphs, including the creation of globally adored hit tracks such as *Night Nurse* and *Soon Forward*, while honestly documenting his well-documented, years-long struggle with cocaine addiction.
June Isaacs, who helped bring the project to fruition and attended the St Andrew launch, praised Price’s work for capturing the full complexity of her husband’s legacy. “It’s incredibly important that Gregory’s life is documented. Legacy matters, if we don’t tell our own stories, someone else will, or worse, they get forgotten. This book is a truthful account of his life: the victories, the struggles, and the lessons that shaped him,” she told reporters at the event.