# On This Day in 1972, Johnny Nash Took Reggae to No. 1 Years Before Bob Marley Became a Global Superstar

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/on-this-day-in-1972-johnny-nash-took-reggae-to-no-1-years-before-bob-marley-became-a-global-superstar/
- Published: 2026-11-04T23:45:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T00:48:40+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/on-this-day-in-1972-johnny-nash-took-reggae-to-no-1-years-before-bob-marley-became-a-global-superstar/
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Nash’s song was the first reggae track to top the US Hot 100.
- It spent four weeks at No. 1 in 1972.
- Nash was closely involved with Jamaica’s music scene.

## Summary

On 4 November 1972, Johnny Nash began a four-week run at No. 1 on the US Hot 100 with “I Can See Clearly Now”, the first reggae song to top the chart. The achievement brought Jamaican music to a wider audience years before Bob Marley became a global star.

Nash had moved from a 1950s pop career into Jamaica’s music scene, working with producer Danny Sims and helping form JAD Records, which signed Marley and the Wailing Wailers. Nash recorded “Hold Me Tight” in Jamaica and later had UK success with Marley’s “Stir It Up”. His hit song was later featured in films including Thelma & Louise and Grosse Pointe Blank; Jimmy Cliff’s version appeared in Cool Runnings and reached No. 18 in the US in 1994.

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