Jamaican singer Millie Small has died, Island Records confirmed on Wednesday (May 6). She was 72. Small "passed away peacefully in London yesterday after having been taken ill at the weekend," a statement read. "Millie Small was a true original, a wonderful human being and will be dearly missed by everyone." Born in Clarendon, Jamaica, Small grew up on a sugar plantation.
She won the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour singing contest at the age of 12, then moved in with relatives in Kingston to pursue a career.
After releasing a few Jamaican singles in 1962, Small caught the attention of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who was living in Jamaica at the time.
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