​Reggae and roots legend Max Romeo has died aged 80

Influential reggae and roots artist Max Romeo – real name Maxwell Smith – has died at the age of 80.

A statement posted on social media over the weekend confirmed his passing, reading: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Max.”

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and tributes, and kindly ask for privacy at this time,” the statement continues. “Legends never die.”

Per The Guardian, Max passed away following heart complications on Friday, April 11. He died in Saint Andrew Parish in Jamaica, where he was born in 1994.

Maxwell Smith’s musical career began at the age of 18 after winning a competition that allowed him to move to Jamaica’s capital, Kingston. There, he joined the rocksteady group The Emotions, who found success with a string of singles through the ‘60s.

In 1968, Smith – known under his solo alias as Max Romeo – released his hit track ‘Wet Dream’, forging a new provocative sound of reggae. The single was banned by the BBC, but went on to spend 25 weeks in the UK charts and became a Top 10 single.

Maxwell signed to Island Records with his hit 1976 album ‘War Ina Babylon’, which found acclaim at a pivotal moment in the changing sound of roots and reggae.

The album featured the famed track ‘Chase The Devil’, which was later sampled by The Prodigy in their 1992 track ‘Out Of Space’, and other artists including Earl Sweatshirt, Kanye West, and Madness.

Maxwell also collaborated with the likes of Jah Shaka, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Rolling Stones, Mad Professor, and many more throughout his career.

Read some tributes below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter