Millie Small, best known as the singer of My Boy Lollipop, has died at the age of 73.
The Jamaican artist – who released her signature hit in 1964 – died after suffering a stroke.
Island Records founder, Chris Blackwell, announced news of her death, paying tribute to the “really special” singer in the Jamaica Observer.
He said: “I would say she’s the person who took ska international because it was her first hit record. It became a hit pretty much everywhere in the world. I went with her around the world because each of the territories wanted her to turn up and do TV shows and such, and it was just incredible how she handled it.”
He added: “She was such a sweet person, really a sweet person. Very funny, great sense of humour. She was really special.”
Millie was born in south Jamaica and after winning a talent competition at the age of 12, she later teamed up with reggae singer Roy Panton to record We’ll Meet.
Island Records boss Chris Blackwell brought her to London in 1963 after having success releasing some of the records she’d recorded with Ray in the UK.
After Millie was enrolled in the Italia Conti Stage School, she toured the UK before recording My Boy Lollipop.
The song, which is characterised by the child-like voice Millie sang it with, reached number two in both the US and the UK in 1964.
Millie continued to tour and perform up to the early 1970s.
She is survived by her daughter, Jaelee.