Lead singer Sparrow of the legendary reggae group The Ethiopians has died.

Sparrow who was born Leonard Dillon died this morning at his daughter’s home in Kingston after ailing for some time. Music News speaks with Patrice Dillon, one of his daughters.

The Ethiopians is a ska, rocksteady, and reggae vocal group, founded by Leonard Dillon, Stephen Taylor and Aston Morris. The group started out recording for Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd in 1966.

In 1991, Dillon recorded the solo album On the Road Again. Toward the end of the 1990s, Dillon formed a new Ethiopians lineup with female backing vocalists Jennifer Lara and Merlene Webber, who appeared on the 1999 album, Tuffer Than Stone.