12 July 2010 Last updated at 03:47 ET

Sugar Minott dies aged 54

Jamaican singer and producer Sugar Minott has died at the age of 54.

His wife said he died at University Hospital, Kingston, but did not say how he died. He cancelled gigs in Canada in May because of chest pains.

The singer, real name Lincoln Barrington Minott, launched his career in the late 1960s as part of reggae trio The African Brothers.

He had a number four hit in the UK in March 1981 with Good Thing Going, a cover of a Michael Jackson song.

Minott launched a solo career in the 1970s and recorded for the famed Studio One label.

He built a following in the dancehalls of Jamaica and recorded songs including Vanity, Mr DC and House Is Not A Home.

He went on to nurture new talent with his own Black Roots and Youth Promotion labels.

Former Youth Promotion artist Junior Reid said: "Sugar Minott was a man who gave a lot of strength to the music although he got no love from the business."

A new album from Minott, New Day, is due to be released "soon", according to his website.