Musical Youth star Frederick Waite Jr who drummed on band’s megahit Pass the Dutchie dies aged 55 

Musical Youth star Frederick Waite Jr who drummed on the band’s cannabis-inspired 1982 megahit Pass the Dutchie has died aged 55.

Waite passed away on July 20 in Birmingham, with the British-Jamaican reggae band announcing his death today via Twitter. Further details surrounding his death are currently unknown.

The band said in a statement: ‘We are sad to announce the passing of Musical Youth’s drummer Frederick Waite Jr. Our thoughts go out to him and his family during this sad time. 

‘We have lost a musical legend, who inspired many young musicians over the last 40 years.’

Waite, pictured on the left with the band, passed away on July 20 in Birmingham

Musical Youth was founded in 1979 and became the first black act to have a music video played on the newly founded channel MTV

Musical Youth wrote in a statement: ‘We are sad to announce the passing of Musical Youth’s drummer Frederick Waite Jr. Our thoughts go out to him and his family during this sad time. We have lost a musical legend, who inspired many young musicians over the last 40 years’

Legions of fans paid tribute to Waite following the announcement

Legions of fans paid tribute to Waite, with one tweeting: ‘R.I.P. Frederick. The very first record I ever bought was Pass The Dutchie. I was 11 years old & I saved up my 25p a week pocket money, my Grandad gave me on a Friday and I went to Rumbelows in Bromsgrove & bought it myself. Thank you for the childhood memories.’

Another wrote: ‘So sorry to hear this, thoughts are with everyone who knew him. Very proud of this band from Birmingham, so talented.’

Musical Youth formed in 1979 and became the first black act to have a music video played on MTV.

Musical Youth pictured in October 1983. Waite is pictured on the far left

British reggae group Musical Youth posed in the playground at their school, Duddeston Manor School, in Birmingham in 1982. Waite is pictured at the back on the left

Musical Youth played their song Pass the Dutchie during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on August 8, without Waite, who died on July 20

They were best known for their number one hit single Pass The Dutchie as well as Youth of Today, Never Gonna Give You Up and a collaboration with Donna Summer on a track titled Unconditional Love.

As the group grew in popularity, they went on to record hugely two successful albums and even earned a Grammy Award nomination before they disbanded back in 1985.

They later reformed, and the band played Pass the Dutchie without Waite during the closing ceremony at the Commonwealth Games this month.