Wilburn Theodore “Stranger” Cole, a Jamaican-born singer and key figure in establishing Toronto as a hub for reggae music, died on June 11 at the age of 83 in Kingston, Jamaica. Known for his influential role in the development of reggae and for pioneering Caribbean music culture in Toronto’s Kensington Market, Cole’s legacy spans over six decades.
Born on July 26, 1942, in Kingston, Cole gained early recognition in Jamaica with several ska and reggae hits, including “Bangarang,” “Just Like a River,” and “Run Joe.” Music industry peers and officials regard “Bangarang,” recorded in 1968, as one of the earliest examples of reggae, though some experts debate whether other recordings hold that distinction. Jamaican Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia (Babsy) Grange described him as “an icon who shaped the sound and evolution of Jamaican music from ska through rocksteady to reggae.”
Cole’s career began under the guidance of prominent producers such as Duke Reid, Clement “Coxsone” Dodd, Sonia Pottinger, and Lee “Scratch” Perry. He made a name for himself with solo hits and successful duets with artists like Ken Boothe and Hortense Ellis. After a brief tour in England, Cole relocated to Toronto in the late 1970s, joining a burgeoning community of Jamaican musicians including Leroy Sibbles, Jackie Mittoo, and Jay Douglas.
In 1978, Cole opened Roots Records in Kensington Market’s Kensington Avenue, one of the neighborhood’s first Caribbean-owned stores. The shop specialized in Caribbean genres such as reggae, ska, rocksteady, as well as jazz, gospel, and disco. Roots Records became a central focal point for Toronto’s reggae scene, hosting lively street sounds and fostering a community of musicians and fans. The retail environment also inspired a friendly rivalry when another Jamaican musician, Ronnie (Bop) Williams, opened a competing record store nearby. This rivalry contributed to what locals described as the “wobble zone,” a distinctive soundscape where powerful reggae rhythms played loudly across the Market’s streets.
Despite his standing as a respected artist, Cole faced economic challenges in Toronto, working outside the music industry as a security guard and machinist to support his family. Nevertheless, he continued to record and perform, releasing albums including 1982’s “The Patriot,” which featured collaborators like Jackie Mittoo and drummer Ben Bow.
As reggae’s popularity grew partly due to the influence of global figures like Bob Marley, Toronto emerged as the world’s second-largest producer of reggae music, a status to which Cole’s contributions were significant. He also produced and promoted local Canadian artists, nurturing the city’s music community.
Cole returned to Jamaica in 1988 to revive his career, performing at Reggae Sunsplash in 1993 and seeing a compilation of his hits reissued in 2003. He was honored by the Jamaican government with a Certificate of Merit for his pioneering work. His influence has also been celebrated in Toronto, including his depiction in the 2015 Reggae Lane mural and a 2019 performance at the Titans of Reggae show.
His musical legacy continues through his children, notably his eldest son Wilburn “Squidly” Cole, an award-winning drummer who has performed with prominent artists such as Ziggy Marley and Lauryn Hill, and his youngest son Marcus Cole, who worked as a producer on his later recordings.
Stranger Cole is survived by six children from four mothers and numerous grandchildren. His contributions to reggae and Toronto’s Caribbean music scene remain widely acknowledged by musicians and cultural historians alike.