Grammy nominated reggae singer George Veikoso, known to most as Fiji, has died at the age of 55.
Sources close to the musician’s family confirmed his death, but declined to provide a cause. Fiji often performed concerts from a wheelchair due an ongoing battle with gout.
Born in Fiji in 1970, the singer relocated to Hawaii when he was a teenager. It was there that he developed his distinctive sound, combining elements of reggae, R&B, jazz, and traditional Polynesian music.
In 1994 he released his debut solo album Evolution, a celebrated LP that brought him international attention.
Fiji racked up an array of accolades throughout his career, including the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Male Vocalist of the year and Favorite Entertainer of the year in 1998. In 2002, he earned a Grammy nomination as part of the Island Warriors project, but lost the Best Reggae Album award to Damian Marley.
Fiji’s popularity also stretched into other mediums. The singer co-wrote the theme for Baywatch Hawaii, had his songs in major films like Aloha, and even acted in the 2002 surfer film Blue Crush.
More recently, Veikoso returned to his homeland for a special 2-day concert event at King Charles Park in Nadi, Fiji. Titled Homecoming Fiji, the concert featured an international lineup that included J Boog, Maoli and Josh Tatofi.
At time of writing, Fiji’s music had amassed more than 500 million streams on YouTube, further evidence of his popularity and lasting impact. Rest in peace, Fiji. Your music will live on forever.
Watch Fiji Performing with J Boog in 2024
