Stephen Cat Coore, Reggae-Fusion Architect and Third World Co-Founder, Dies at 69

Stephen "Cat" Coore, the Jamaican guitarist, cellist and co-founder of Third World, died suddenly on the evening of Sunday, January 18, 2026. He was 69. Coore’s passing removes one of the architects of reggae-fusion, a musician whose arrangements and leadership helped Third World bridge roots reggae with pop, soul and funk for international audiences.

Coore began his career as an early member of Inner Circle before joining with keyboardist Ibo Cooper to form Third World, a band that carved a distinctive sound by layering traditional reggae skank and one-drop riddims with rich melodic and orchestral touches. Coore’s use of the cello in reggae arrangements became a signature element, adding a low-register warmth and counter-melody that set tracks apart on radio and in concert. As Third World’s musical director, he shaped performances and studio recordings that produced enduring songs including "Now That We’ve Found Love," "96 Degrees in the Shade" and "Try Jah Love."

The family issued a statement confirming his passing, and tributes from Jamaican cultural leaders and the wider music community followed swiftly. Musicians, promoters and radio programmers are already marking his influence in social posts and on-air sets, and the country is preparing to honour his legacy during Reggae Month. For communities that track Jamaica’s musical lineage, Coore’s death underscores the end of a direct link to the 1970s-80s era when reggae was actively cross-pollinating with global pop forms.

Coore’s musicianship had practical impact beyond credits. His arrangements widened the toolkit for session players and producers working in reggae and adjacent genres, demonstrating how strings and bowed instruments can sit comfortably in a reggae pocket without diluting the groove. Bands and solo artists who fuse roots with international sounds have followed paths Coore helped chart, and younger musicians frequently cite Third World’s catalog as a template for balancing authenticity with crossover appeal.

For listeners, collectors and performers, this is a moment to revisit Third World’s records and study Coore’s cello lines and guitar voicings. Radio programmers and venues will likely curate tribute nights and retrospectives during Reggae Month, offering chances to hear his work in context. His death also reminds the community to preserve recordings and oral histories that document Jamaica’s musical innovators.

Stephen Cat Coore leaves a legacy of melodic invention and cross-cultural reach. Expect tributes in the weeks ahead and a renewed focus on the arrangements and performances that helped carry Jamaican music around the globe.