Derrick Harriott: key obituary facts
Is Derrick Harriott dead? Yes. Derrick Harriott died on October 24, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Derrick Harriott's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Derrick Harriott known for?
He was a Jamaican musician.
More about Derrick Harriott
Born: 6 February 1939.
Place of birth: Kingston.
Gender: male.
Occupation: record producer, singer, composer, reggae musician.
Nationality: Jamaica.
Career began: 1958.
Also known as: Derrick Clifton Harriott.
Genres: Reggae, ska, rocksteady.
Occupations: Singer, record producer.
Years active: 1958–2026.
Derrick Harriott, the Jamaican singer and record producer, died October 24, 2026, aged 87.
Born in Kingston on February 6, 1939, he was identified by the full name Derrick Clifton Harriott and the honorific OD. His career began in 1958 and continued through 2026, spanning reggae, ska and rocksteady.
Harriott first performed as a member of the Jiving Juniors alongside Herman Sang, before going on to a solo career. His work brought together those two roles: performing as a singer and producing recordings for other artists. His production credits included recordings by Big Youth, Chariot Riders, The Chosen Few, Dennis Brown, The Ethiopians, Keith & Tex, The Kingstonians, Rudy Mills, Scotty, Sly & Revolutionaries and Winston McAnuff. The range of names in those credits includes solo performers and groups, while the Jiving Juniors marked an early part of his own musical career. Harriott’s biography thus traces a career that began in group performance, developed into solo work and also encompassed production across a roster of Jamaican artists. The supplied career dates place his activity across nearly seven decades, from 1958 to 2026.