Johnny Nash, 'I Can See Clearly Now' singer-songwriter, dies at 80

Singer-songwriter Johnny Nash, who helped popularize reggae music globally and was best known for his 1972 reggae-influenced hit, "I Can See Clearly Now," died Tuesday. He was 80.

Nash, who had been in declining health, died of natural causes at home in Houston, the city of his birth, his son, Johnny Nash Jr., told The Associated Press. 

Born John Lester Nash Jr. on Aug. 19, 1940, Nash began as a pop singer in the 1950s. His first chart hit was a 1958 cover of Doris Day’s "A Very Special Love."

Nash sang the title theme song for the children's animated cartoon "The Mighty Hercules," which first aired in 1967.

He was one of the first non-Jamaican singers to record reggae music in Kingston, Jamaica, where Nash first traveled in 1968. He signed The Wailers – Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh – to an exclusive publishing and recording contract with his JAD record label, formed in 1967 with Danny Sims, and financed some of their recordings.

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Nash’s biggest hits were the early reggae tunes "Hold Me Tight" (a No. 5 hit in 1968) and 1972's "Stir It Up," written by Marley.

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But Nash was best known for the enduring hit "I Can See Clearly Now." 

The single sold over one million copies and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1972, remaining at the top of the chart for four weeks.

The ultimately optimistic song has been used in films, TV and commercials and covered by Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Jimmy Cliff (for the 1993 film "Cool Runnings"), the Mamas and the Papas, Sonny & Cher, Kermit Ruffins and Donnie Osmond. Grace VanderWaal reimagined the song with "Clearly" in 2018.

Nash covered Sam Cooke’s "Wonderful World" in 1976 and "Let’s Go Dancing" in 1979. Intensely private, he gradually withdrew from public performance, but released album "Here Again" in 1986.

The remaining Wailers paid tribute on Twitter Wednesday, writing, "We are very sad to hear about the passing of a true legend, #JohnnyNash. An American brother with #Jamaicansoul, who helped introduce #reggae to the UK and the world in the 70s. May his legacy continue through his music."

He is survived by his wife, Carli, and his son.