Clockwise from top left: Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Catch a Fire,” “Rastaman Vibration,” “Exodus,” and “Uprising,” the artwork for which was done by Neville Garrick. Fair use. The family of Neville Garrick, the Jamaican graphic artist and designer of reggae music’s most iconic albums, announced on November 15 that he had passed away in Los Angeles, after a “brief but brave fight with cancer.” A close friend of and art director for Bob Marley, Garrick was especially famous for designing the vibrant covers for the reggae icon’s most acclaimed albums, but there were many other aspects to his life as a devout Rastafarian, political activist and creative. Garrick’s daughter Naomi shared: Words cannot adequately express the loss that we currently feel as a family to lose our beloved Neville. He was a master storyteller, history keeper, poignant artist, author, speaker, proud Kingston College and UCLA graduate and for us father, Grandpa, ‘Poppy’, provider, and friend. Our hearts are broken as we come to terms with this loss. Neville in his own words ‘coloured the music’ but for us, he coloured our lives. Our hope is that his work will continue to be enjoyed and celebrated around the world. Marley's daughter Cedella, who is CEO of the Bob Marley Group of Companies, posted a simple message on Instagram with a photograph showing Garrick in reflective mode: “Fly away home, Uncle Neville.” The Bob Marley Foundation posted a collage of photographs on Facebook with the message: Bob’s art director and good friend Neville Garrick passed away and is on his journey home. Condolences to his children, family and friends. His life will be remembered through his voice and his art. The legacy lives on. RASTAFARI The Wailers’ Junior Marvin shared: Neville Garrick R.I.P. 🙏🏽 Smiling with Bob & Others right now. 👑 Jah Guide & Bless. Condolences to Family & Friends 🇯🇲💚🧡💖🌍🌏🌎☮️🪇🎨🎨🎨🎬🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈#nevillegarrick #bobmarley #bobmarleyandthewailers #smile #artist #color #love #jah #rasta #joy #music #family #freedom pic.twitter.com/UJMfQUGp9c — Junior Marvin ♬ The Legendary Wailers (@JuniorMarvin09) November 15, 2023 Jimmy Cliff's daughter, music executive Odessa Chambers, paid tribute to her “Uncle” Neville: . “Design is fine … History is mine”… Walk Good Uncle #NevilleGarrick Dear friend to both of my parents. 🖤🙏🏾🕊️ pic.twitter.com/nficlWc9b9 — oDessa (@oblessa) November 15, 2023 Prime Minister Andrew Holness also paid tribute: I extend condolences to the family and friends of Neville Garrick. His departure leaves a void not only in the artistic community but also in the hearts of those who admired and cherished him. pic.twitter.com/KT0v0EhEBQ — Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) November 15, 2023 Garrick joined art classes at a prominent boys’ high school, Kingston College, at age 14. He attended the University College of Los Angeles (UCLA) for four years on a soccer scholarship, reaching the National Collegiate Athletic Association finals in both 1971 and 1972. During his student days, he co-edited UCLA’s Black student magazine Nommo and began designing political posters; one of his first was for Angela Davis. As a freshman in 1970, he and six other artists embarked on a mural project depicting the struggles and achievements of African Americans in the United States at UCLA. The mural was restored and returned to public viewing in 2014. As a student, Garrick also began painting (and selling paintings) on African themes, noting in a 2001 interview, “I was involved in every kind of student demonstration on campus. I would do silk-screen posters for the protests, with the power fist and all that.” Paying tribute to Garrick, one contributor on “X” (formerly Twitter) wrote: We lost a good one yesterday. Neville Garrick was an award winning artist responsible for creating many of the album covers for his good friend, Bob Marley. While attending UCLA, he painted this mural in the early 70’s. It was wallpapered over, recently. uncovered. RIP RASTA🏌🏾‍♀️🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/R8QiMFh5tH — Elder Marques Johnson (@olskool888) November 15, 2023 On returning to Jamaica, Garrick worked for a year as an art director for a local publication, Daily News, before resigning to join Tuff Gong Records. It was through sports that Garrick met Bob Marley; national footballer Alan “Skill” Cole introduced him to Marley (a great lover of football) and their friendship began. Garrick described Marley as a “big brother” who was more street-smart than he did, having come from a different background. He began to spend time at Marley's then home, 56 Hope Road in Kingston — now the Bob Marley Museum — where many a football game was played.