December 7 1943: Trumpeter David Madden [Zap Pow] is born in Kingston, Jamaica. 1992: Bob Marley & The Wailers' boxset "Songs of Freedom" [Island] is certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). 1994: Ace Of Base's album "The Sign" [Arista] is certified Multi (7.0) Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). 2023: British dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah passes away (dies of brain tumor) at the age of 65.  December 8 1942: Toots Hibbert (Frederick Nathaniel "Toots" Hibbert, O.J.) is born in Clarendon, Jamaica. 1955: DJ General Echo aka Ranking Slackness (Errol Robinson) is born in Kingston, Jamaica. c.1970: Yogie (Courtney Morrison) is born in Annotto Bay, St. Mary, Jamaica. 1974: Japanese singer Minmi is born. 1976: Eagles' album "Hotel California", which contains their reggae-styled tune, is released. 1999: Organizers of the popular live show Sting honors eleven persons from various sectors of the entertainment industry at the launch of the 1999 renewal at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus. Those honoured ware: Wayne Holung of the True Tone sound system deejay Desmond "Ninja Man" Ballentine deejay Norman "Tiger" Jackson production man Ricky Chin Derrick Barnett, founding member of the Sagittarius Band Lloyd "King Jammys" James Desmond Young, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians Patrick Roberts of Shocking Vibes Productions Donovan Germaine of Penthouse Records Tommy Cowan of Glory Music John Swaby, another specialist in the area of production 2021: Jamaican bass guitarist and record producer Robbie Shakespeare [Sly & Robbie] (Robert Warren Dale Shakespeare) passes away. Age 68.  December 9 1940: Pioneering Jamaican singer and producer Clancy Eccles is born in Dean Pen, St. Mary, Jamaica. 1942: Leonard Dillon [Ethiopians] is born in Port Antonio, Jamaica. 1965: Jazz reggae sax man Arthro Tappin is born. 1991: After a long legal battle, Bob Marley's $11.5 million estate is settled in court and left in the hands of his family, headed by Rita Marley. 1991: Ziggy Marley's daughter is born. Ziggy names her Justice in honor of the verdict awards Bob Marley's estate to his family. 1994: (or early next day) Garnet Daymon Smith aka Garnet Silk passes away at the age of 28. (b. April 2, 1966) He and his mother were killed in gas explosion at his home in Mandeville, Jamaica; two of his brothers were injured.