The dancehall community mourns the passing of the underrated veteran artist Nardo Ranks, who died on Sunday, December 22nd, in Queens, New York, at the age of 56. Born Gary Henderson, Nardo Ranks began his music journey with the Cave Man Hi Power sound system in the mid-1980s and made his recording debut with the track Love To See The Girls, which was released in 1989. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, he was a prolific artist, releasing singles with notable labels such as Penthouse Records, Star Trail, Xterminator, Mr. Doo, and Wild Apache. He achieved success with Wayne Wonder for the hit Sound Boy What Happen To You on the Things And Time riddim, produced by Winston Riley’s Techniques label.

In 1992, it was his Sly & Robbie-produced solo track, Them A Bleach, set to the Bam Bam riddim, that gained him broader acclaim. This success secured Nardo Ranks a deal with Profile Records in New York, resulting in his debut album, Rough Nardo Ranking. His impact wasn’t limited to dancehall; each of his songs made waves in the hip-hop scene. Classics like Burrup, Me No Like Rikers Island, New Jersey Drive, and Them A Bleach have stood the test of time. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards in recognition of his contributions to the music industry.

Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Nardo Ranks – Them A Bleach