Reggae music in Canada has lost one of its most beloved and talented musicians, legendary drummer-percussionist-musician Raffa Dean aka Tony White aka Paul Anthony White. Raffa Dean, considered to be Canada’s number one reggae drummer of all time, died Tuesday June 10th after a two year battle with stomach cancer, an illness he kept secret from friends and family until the end. He was 56 year old. He leaves behind two daughters, Jacquiline and Teani White.
Born in Kingston Jamaica, Raffa Dean emigrated to Canada in 1975, where he jammed with almost every musician and band coming through Toronto and Canada. A gifted singer, writer, and musician, and Canada’s most talented and creative drummer to have played reggae music in Canada, Raffa Dean toured with or was a part of many great reggae bands the likes of Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Free Dubstar, The Resinators, The Dream Band, the Mighty Mystics, and Big Sugar, who are remembered for being show openers for the Rolling Stones at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Raffa Dean is also survived by his younger brother, 2013 JUNO nominee Akoustix aka Andrew Ranks, whose nominated song “Mandela” featured Raffa Dean on percussion. ReggaeMania.com spoke with Akoustix, who remembers his late brother as someone who was “very proud, someone who liked to make people laugh…the class clown”. States Akoustix, “Raffa was extremely creative and influential, and so talented that people even paired him up with the great Sly Dunbar. We’ve lost one of the originators, one of the originals. He started off Dancehall, he’s the original drummer who created One Drop, before Bimbo took it back to Jamaica. Reggae Music is going to miss him”.
A Service for Raffa Dean’s will take place this Sunday June 15th, 9:30-11:00 at the Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON M4X 1K5 (416-924-1408). The Burial will be at 12:00 Noon, before a Daniels Spectrum Memorial Tribute.
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