Winston “Saxton” Rose has passed away

The UK reggae scene has lost one of its finest musicians. Winston “Saxton” Rose, the Jamaican-British saxophonist, was a familiar name to many artists and musicians, having backed numerous Jamaican and British reggae acts on stage and in the studio.

But Rose was much more than a backing musician. He helped shape the instrumental sound of UK roots reggae, bringing the saxophone to the forefront with expressive melodies and arrangements that added another dimension to the music.

A versatile player, he worked with alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet and flute. His soulful tone and strong roots sensibility made him a respected figure in the British reggae community. One of his best-known associations was with Misty In Roots, the influential UK roots band. Besides that he also was a band member of UB40, joining them on stage from 2008 to 2019. Furthermore, he often formed a horn section with Matic Horns.

Rose had a natural feel for combining traditional Jamaican reggae with the heavier, more urban sounds coming out of London’s sound system culture. His playing was warm, melodic and full of feeling, giving countless recordings a character of their own.

While he spent much of his career contributing to other artists’ work, he also released music under his own name. His discography includes about four albums and several 7″ singles.

A particularly noteworthy release is Sounds Of Freedom, his 1995 album for Roots Records. Rose took charge of the project himself, producing, composing and arranging the music in London. Built around his saxophone playing, the album offered a refreshing instrumental take on roots reggae, with the horn melodies firmly in the spotlight.

Mama Africa and The Journey are among its standout cuts, showing how effectively Rose could combine memorable saxophone lines with deep bass and heavyweight reggae riddims. It’s an album that has earned its place among the collections of instrumental reggae and dub lovers.

Five years later, Robert Tribulation teamed up with Winston “Saxton” Rose for Tribulation Dub Vol. 5: Sax In Dub, an instrumental showcase that put Rose’s saxophone playing firmly in the spotlight, wrapped in deep, dubwise mixes. In 2009, Rose followed up with Victory For Peace (Sip A Cup Showcase Vol. 11), produced by Gussie P. His last full length album, titled Rockers Delight , was digitally released by Nu Edge Music in 2021.

Winston “Saxton” Rose passed away on October 30, 2026 at age 65. He leaves behind a body of work that reflects his musicianship, creativity and commitment to roots reggae. His saxophone helped define a part of the British reggae sound, and his contribution deserves to be remembered.

Our sincere condolences to the entire family, his musical brethren and his fans. RIEP