Words by Erin MacLeod, photo by Martei Korley (shot at Sugar Minott’s Black Roots/Youthman Promotions Studio)—
Ranking Trevor, one of the most influential Jamaican deejays from the 70s, died in a road accident Tuesday, August 7 in the Olympic Gardens area of Kingston. Reports say Ranking Trevor, born Maxwell Grant, was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by a car and knocked off the motorcycle when a second vehicle immediately drove over him while he was lying injured in the street. Ranking Trevor was 53 years old.
In the 1970s, Ranking Trevor was one of Jamaica’s most celebrated deejays to widen the path blazed by the pioneer, U-Roy. Recording primarily for the legendary Channel One label, Ranking Trevor’s best work is mostly found on 12″ records including “Truly” and “Queen Majesty”, for both of which harmony group The Jays provide infectious melodies for Ranking Trevor to ride on.
Despite influencing his own generation and future trailblazers, Ranking Trevor is one of a host of singers and deejays who arguably never received their due. “People out there now collecting my money by selling my songs in (all) kind of ways,” he told the Jamaica Observer in February 2012.