Island Records is very sad to announce the passing of one of its most beloved and celebrated artists, Millie Small. Millie, the young Jamaican singer who introduced ska music to the world with her 1964 hit single “My Boy Lollipop” passed away peacefully in London yesterday after having been taken ill at the weekend. She was 72 years old.
Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very sad time. Speaking about his friend, and the artist who put Island Records on the map, Island founder Chris Blackwell said: “Millie opened the door for Jamaican music to the world. It became a hit pretty much everywhere in the world. I went with her around the world because each of the territories wanted her to turn up and do TV shows and such, and it was just incredible how she handled it. She was such a really sweet person, very funny, great sense of humour. She was really special.”
“My Boy Lollipop” reached number 2 in the UK and US singles charts and sold over 7 million copies around the world.
Millie is survived by her beloved daughter Jaelee who Millie devoted her life to when she was born in 1984.
Millie Small was a true original, a wonderful human being and will be dearly missed by everyone.