Radcliffe ‘Dougie’ Bryan, the celebrated guitarist whose iconic riffs graced numerous hits by Toots and The Maytals, The Sensations, and Gregory Isaacs, passed away at the age of 78 on October 16 in Florida. His longtime colleague and bassist Jackie Jackson of The Maytals confirmed the news in an interview with Observer Online. Bryan’s illustrious career spanned decades, leaving an indelible mark on reggae and ska music. Earlier this year, in July 2024, he was honored with seven Grammy certificates by the Recording Association of America, recognizing his contributions to three Grammy-winning albums and four nominated works. The ceremony, held at the Island SPACE Museum in Plantation, South Florida, was presided over by Kennedy Mensah, managing director of Back 2 Da Future Music Ltd, a London-based music publishing firm representing Bryan. Among the albums acknowledged were Black Uhuru’s ‘Anthem,’ Bunny Wailer’s ‘Crucial! Roots Classics,’ and Toots and The Maytals’ ‘Got to Be Tough,’ which won Best Reggae Album Grammys in 1985, 1995, and 2021, respectively. Bryan’s work on other classics, including Toots and The Maytals’ ‘Light Your Light’ and ‘Ska Father,’ Jimmy Cliff’s ‘Hanging Fire,’ and Sizzla’s ‘The Messiah,’ was also celebrated. Born in Trelawny, Bryan moved to Kingston in his early teens and began his musical journey in the mid-1960s. He joined The Sensations, a harmony group that achieved success with hits like ‘Those Guys’ and ‘Everyday is A Holiday.’ Bryan’s guitar riffs became synonymous with timeless tracks such as ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,’ ‘Soon Forward,’ ‘Monkey Man,’ and ‘Pressure Drop.’ As a core member of The Maytals, alongside Jackie Jackson, drummer Paul Douglas, guitarist Hux Brown, and organist Winston Wright, Bryan helped shape the band’s signature sound. In the 1970s, he was part of The Revolutionaries, the house band at Channel One, where he collaborated with legends like Black Uhuru, Gregory Isaacs, and Jimmy Riley under producers Joseph Hoo Kim and Sly and Robbie. Bryan’s legacy as a pioneering guitarist and reggae icon will continue to resonate across generations.