Welcome to a special edition of the Ska Boom podcast which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History.  I was very sad to hear that Astro, the vocalist and DJ for UB40 and later the splinter group UB40 featuring Ali and Astro passed away at the age 64 on Saturday November 6th. This episode is a tribute to him and the iconic role he and UB40 have played in popularizing reggae around the world. Astro – born Terrence Wilson – got his nickname as a kid because he wore a pair of Dr Martens boots with the model name "Astronaut. "Fortunately, no one called me astronaut because it is rather a mouthful so they shortened it to Astro and it has stuck ever since," he explained in a 2016 interview.   Sadly, Astro – who toasted and chatted over some of the band’s best-known tracks-- is the second member of the band to pass away in 2021.  Saxophonist Brian Travers died from a long battle with cancer in August. In a year that I lost my mother, I’ve felt despair each time I hear the news that a musical hero of mine has passed.  So many of them served as surrogate family members to me when I was a teen.  The small emotional reprieve I feel with each passing of these notable musicians is that their creative energy will live on through the amazing and timeless music they’ve created. May his memory be a blessing.  Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices