Cocoa Tea

Cocoa Tea

Colvin George Scott (3 September 1959 - 11 March 2025), better known as Cocoa Tea, was a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter.

Life and career
Born was in the fishing village of Rocky Point, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica on 3 September 1959, Cocoa Tea was one of the most popular singers in Jamaica from the 1980s onwards, achieving significant worldwide success in the reggae world. He made his first venture into the music industry at only 14 years of age in 1974, when he released "Searching In The Hills" for Willie Francis' Little Willie label. When the song failed to hit the young Colvin gave up on the music industry for a while, and spent time working as both a jockey and a fisherman over the next few years. Unable to stay away for too long he gained experience singing live on various sound systems before eventually finding his way to Henry "Junjo" Lawes Volcano label in 1984, where he scored big hits with first "Rocking Dolly" and later "I Lost My Sonia", under the name Cocoa Tea. From there his career continued to progress, leading to overseas tours and working with many other Jamaican producers. Some of his biggest hits of this period include "Young Lover" and "Children of the Ghetto" for the Jammys label, as well as "Holding On" in collaboration with Home T and Shabba Ranks for Gussie Clarke's Music Works. In 1990 he was released the hit "Rikers Island" on the Mr Doo imprint, inspired by John Holt's 1977 song "Up Park Camp", with re-worked lyrics referencing the Rikers Island prison in New York City as a warning to young Jamaican immigrants of the time. He also voiced a version in combination with Nardo Ranks titled "Me No Like Rikers Island", which featured on the 1991 Columbia/SME Records compilation album, Dancehall Reggaespañol. His success continued into the 1990s, with songs such as "Bust Outta Hell" again for Junjo, "Tune In" for Jammys, as well as working with new producers such as Philip "Fatis" Burrell on "Good Life" and "She Loves Me Now", and Bobby 'Digital' Dixon for "Moving On", "Heathen" and "No Threat". Many of these productions found their way onto albums released by international labels such as VP Records, Greensleeves and Ras Records. By this stage he had established himself as one of the top singers in the reggae world, and remained a favourite with fans, performing at almost every Reggae Sunsplash. In 1997 he launched his own label, Roaring Lion Records, which achieved a good deal of success, releasing songs by some of the top artists on the island including Buju Banton, Louie Culture, Capleton, Cutty Ranks, Sizzla and of course "Sweet Sweet" Cocoa Tea himself. He gained notoriety in March 2008 after releasing a song titled "Barack Obama" on the label in support of the US presidential candidate of the same name. Cocoa Tea's song "Jah Made Them That Way" from his 1984 album Rocking Dolly, interpolates "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson and "Answer Mi Question" by Dillinger. He initiated the annual New Year's Eve events Dancehall Jam Jam in 2003 which ran until 2009. Cocoa Tea died from a cardiac arrest on 11 March 2025, at the age of 65.

Compilations (1)

Comp. In His Early Days
Corner Stone • 1984-86
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
In His Early Days Cocoa Tea In His Early Days 777 STONE CD Corner Stone 1984-86 1998

Credits & Appearances (7)

Musicians
Vocals 7
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
In His Early Days Cocoa Tea In His Early Days 777 STONE CD Corner Stone 1984-86 1998
Mr. Coco Tea Coco Tea Mr. Coco Tea LP Corner Stone 1985 1985
Clash Tenor Saw & Cocoa Tea Clash HLP 012 LP Hawkeye 1985 1985
I Lost My Sonia Coco Tea I Lost My Sonia LP Volcano 1985 1985
Showdown Vol 8 Frankie Paul & Cocoa Tea Showdown Vol 8 JJ 197 LP Hitbound 1986 1986
Cocoa Tea Cocoa Tea Cocoa Tea JWH 871 LP Jimpy's 1986 1986
Corner Stone Presents Clash Of The 80's Cocoa Tea & Barrington Levy Corner Stone Presents Clash Of The 80's LP Corner Stone 198X

Also Appears On (31)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
From Dubplate To Download Various Artists From Dubplate To Download GREZCD 4011 CD Greensleeves 1977-07 2007
The Volcano Dancehall Albums Collection Various Artists The Volcano Dancehall Albums Collection DB2CD 143 CD Doctor Bird 1979-85 2024
From The Foundation Gussie Clarke From The Foundation VPCD 5012 CD 17 North Parade 197X-200X 2015
Dread Broadcasting Corp. Various Artists Dread Broadcasting Corp. TJDDD 167 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2004
Reggae Mandela Various Artists Reggae Mandela VPCD 2524 CD VP 197X-9X 2019
The Kings Of Reggae Various Artists The Kings Of Reggae RR 066-067 LP BBE 197X-9X 2007
The Volcano Eruption Various Artists The Volcano Eruption CD Sonic Sounds 1981-84 1993
Volcano Eruption Henry Junjo Lawes Volcano Eruption VPCD 4162 CD 17 North Parade 1981-85 2010
Cornerstone Connection Vol 2 Various Artists Cornerstone Connection Vol 2 none LP Corner Stone 1982-84
Kingston 13 Meet Corner Stone Various Artists Kingston 13 Meet Corner Stone none LP Corner Stone 1982-84
Dennis Brown & Superstar Friends Dennis Brown & Various Artists Dennis Brown & Superstar Friends VPCD 2482 CD VP 1984-93 2014
1985 Master Mega Hits Vol 2 Various Artists 1985 Master Mega Hits Vol 2 LP Jammys 1985 1985
King At The Controls Various Artists King At The Controls VPCD 1733 CD VP 1985-89 2006
King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 1 King Jammy & Friends King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 1 VPCD 1744 CD VP 1985-89 2007
King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 2 King Jammy & Friends King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 2 VPCD 1745 CD VP 1985-89 2007
King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 4 King Jammy & Friends King Jammy's Selector's Choice Vol 4 VPCD 1747 CD VP 1985-89 2007
Prince Jammy Presents Vol 2 Various Artists Prince Jammy Presents Vol 2 LALP 004 LP Live And Love 1986 1986
Superstar Hit Parade Vol 2 Various Artists Superstar Hit Parade Vol 2 LALP 006 LP Live And Love 1986 1986
Cornerstone Presents Battle Of The Superstars Various Artists Cornerstone Presents Battle Of The Superstars LP Corner Stone 198X
Greensleeves 12" Rulers Augustus Clarke Greensleeves 12" Rulers GRELCD 611 CD Greensleeves 198X 2007
Junjo Lawes Hot Rocks From Volcano Various Artists Junjo Lawes Hot Rocks From Volcano CT 3024 CD Creole (Rhino) 198X 2001
King Jammy - A Man And His Music Vol 3 Various Artists King Jammy - A Man And His Music Vol 3 CD 79203 CD RAS 198X
Shining Stars Vol 2 Various Artists Shining Stars Vol 2 JGH 7001 LP Jimpy's 198X
Various Artists Skengdon All Stars LP Skengdon 198X
The RAS Portrait Series Various Artists The RAS Portrait Series CD RAS 198X
Total Recall - Volcano Vol 1 Various Artists Total Recall - Volcano Vol 1 VPCD 1189 CD VP 198X 1992
Trojan Eighties Box Set Various Artists Trojan Eighties Box Set TJETD 253 CD Trojan 198X 2005
Yabby You & King Tubby's All Stars Various Artists Yabby You & King Tubby's All Stars none LP Prophet 198X
King Jammy's Roots, Reality And Sleng Teng King Jammy King Jammy's Roots, Reality And Sleng Teng VPCD 5011 CD 17 North Parade 198X-9X 2015
Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Ras Reggae Box Set TJETD 152 CD Trojan 198X-9X 2004
Out Of Many Various Artists Out Of Many VPCD 1962 CD VP 19XX 2012
13 albums
7 credits
10 labels
1984 - 1998