Stephen “Cat” Coore, one of Jamaica’s most distinguished musical icons and co-founder of the globally celebrated band Third World, has died at the age of 69. His passing marks the end of an era in Caribbean music history.
Born with an ear for harmony and a mind steeped in innovation, Coore was a force in Jamaican music from a young age. He first emerged on the scene as a founding member of Inner Circle before branching off to co-create Third World—a band that would come to define reggae fusion long before the term became commonplace.
Third World didn’t just make music. They engineered a new sound. Fusing the soul of reggae with the rhythm of funk, the pulse of rock, and the lift of pop, they forged a sonic identity that carried Jamaican culture to stages across continents. Their catalog includes timeless anthems like 96 Degrees in the Shade, Now That We’ve Found Love, and Try Jah Love—songs that transcended genre and geography to touch lives globally.
At the heart of this movement was Cat Coore, whose virtuosic guitar playing, deep-rooted musicality, and vision elevated every performance. His signature cello renditions and stage presence became symbolic of both the band’s sophistication and the broader evolution of reggae as an art form.
His contributions didn’t go unnoticed. Coore was conferred with the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government, an honor befitting a man who not only shaped a genre but helped define a generation.
Stephen Coore is survived by his wife Lisa, his children—Shiah, Kanna, Stephen, and Ashley—and his grandchildren. His absence will be felt across concert halls, rehearsal rooms, sound systems, and record grooves—but his music, like all true legacy, will continue to echo.
The world lost a guitarist. Jamaica lost a giant.
