'No Woman No Cry' Songwriter Vincent Tata Ford Died

By: Brittany Somerset, Intrepid Reporter

Vincent Tata Ford, the songwriter credited with composing the Bob Marley roots reggae classic mega-hit "No Woman, No Cry" died in a hospital in Kingston, Jamaica on December 28th. He was 68. Ford suffered from a life long struggle with diabetes and lost both his legs to the disease. A spokesman for the Bob Marley Foundation stated that Ford had died from complications caused by diabetes.

His timeless, international classic hit song appeared on Marley's Natty Dread album in 1974. Ford is also credited with three songs on Marley's album Rastaman Vibration, released in 1976.

1. "Positive Vibration" (Vincent Ford) - 3:33
2. "Roots, Rock, Reggae" (Vincent Ford) - 3:38
3. "Crazy Baldhead" (Rita Marley/Vincent Ford) - 3:11

While Marley remains the most world renowned, revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music on a global scale, Ford ran a soup kitchen in his native Jamaica and lived in relative obscurity until his death. He discontinued writing songs after Marley's death in 1981.

Both Marley and Ford were friends who lived in the Trench Town ghetto in Kingston in the 1960s. Some detractors claim Marley wrote No Woman No Cry himself, for his wife Rita, but gave Ford the songwriting credit to ensure that his friend would be financially supported by the song's lifetime of royalties.

Ford is credited as the writer for "Everything's Gonna Be Alright," on the soundtrack to the dismal 2003 J.Lo and Affleck flic Gigli. Vincent Ford also dabbled in acting, appearing as a team captain in the 1986 movie, "FDR: A One Man Show."