Reggae & Dancehall Producer Bobby Digital Dead At 59.

Bobby Digital, one of Jamaica’s most influential music producers, is dead at 59.

Born Robert Dixon, Bobby Digital began his career as a studio engineer with King Jammys in 1985. By 1988 he formed his own Digital B label and the Heatwave Sound system, where he helped stylize the computerized phase of Jamaican music.

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According to LoopJA, Robert “Bobby Digital” Dixon, one of dancehall/reggae’s most successful music producers, died on Thursday, May 21, at age 59. He reportedly succumbed to a kidney-related illness after he had gone to do his weekly dialysis treatment at the hospital. 

Reports are that Dixon began to feel ill and was eventually admitted and later died.

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Jamaica’s Culture Minister Honors Bobby Digital

In a statement posted on Jamaica Observer, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, extended condolences to Dixon’s family.

“Bobby Digital was one of the most respected record producers of his time. He paid attention to detail and brought out the best in the artistes he worked with. He had a great work ethic and the studio was his playground. I had a wonderful experience working with him and I was always in awe at his ability to take the simplest ideas and turn them into chart toppers. So strong was his influence that many upcoming artistes felt their only path to stardom was to record for Bobby Digital. He was one of the producers who came from a special mould akin to the likes of Coxsone Dodd, King Jammys and Jack Scorpio who could direct others into making hit beats and chart-topping songs. I am sure that all the stakeholders in the music industry would agree that we owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude,” said the minister.

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Bobby Digital’s production work is heard in music featuring Shabba Ranks, Cocoa Tea, Super Cat, Garnett Silk, Morgan Heritage, Sizzla, Anthony B, Richie Spice, Chezidek, Ras Shiloh, Louie Culture, LMS, Mikey Spice, and Norris Man. He was the producer of Sizzla’s Black Woman and Child album.

Robert “Bobby Digital” Dixon is survived by his wife Merva, three children, two grandchildren, a sister and two brothers.