Johnny Nash

Johnny Nash was a singer from Houston, Texas who had a few different phases to his career. He first found some success in the early 1960s with songs like 'Hold Me Tight,' but it was a decade later that he recorded what became his signature song. 'I Can See Clearly Now' came out in 1972 with its optimistic message and bright arrangement, and it connected with listeners in a way that defined his public image for years afterward.

He also recorded Bob Marley's 'Stir It Up' around the same period, helping introduce reggae sounds to a wider pop audience. Nash's voice had a clear, gentle quality that worked well on both upbeat tracks and softer material like 'Guava Jelly' or 'Tears On My Pillow.'

Beyond the recordings, he was known to be involved with social causes, though the specifics of that work aren't detailed in most accounts of his career. He kept performing and putting out albums into the 1980s and beyond, but it's the early 1970s material that people still remember.