Legendary Jamaican reggae Musician, Junior Murvin, best know for the single ‘Police and Thieves’ is dead.

The Portland-based singer reportedly died peacefully at his home at Summers Town Road in Port Antonio early this morning.

Murvin, whose real name is Murvin Junior Smith was born in Saint James in 1949, but following the death of his father, relocated to Port Antonio with his mother and other siblings.

Murvin would later achieve fame as the falsetto singer of ‘Police and Thieves’, which was an international hit in 1976, produced by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.



The legendary singer, who also sang with one of Jamaica’s leading bands in the 1990’s, ‘Jah Postles’, toured extensively several countries in Europe including Germany, England, and France, while blazing a trail in vintage reggae music.

Murvin has scored with several other hits including: the ultra easy skank of ‘Miss Kushie’, the seminal ‘Cool out Son’, and others like ‘I’m In Love’, ‘Bad Man Posse’ and ‘Muggers in the Street’.

At the time of his death, Junior Murvin was reportedly suffering from an advance stage of diabetes.

Junior Murvin – Police and Thieves

