Reggae legend Gregory Isaacs was called the "Cool Ruler" for good reason.

During the 1970s and 1980s, with a plaintive crooning style that evoked images of slow grinding with a pretty girl on a smoky dance floor, Isaacs carved out his own chapter in reggae music history.

Bob Marley may have been more popular, and Burning Spear may have been more true to the roots, but no reggae legend has ever been cooler than Issac, who penned his classic song "Night Nurse" in 1982.

Isaacs lost a long battle with cancer and died at his London home. He was a too-young 59 when he passed.

Starting out in the wild-west days of Jamaican record-making, where little respect was paid to the concept of copyrights and the same album could be released under different names in different countries, Isaacs has been credited with releasing more that 500 albums in Jamaica, England and the United States.

Issacs worked extensively with dub legends Lee "Scratch" Perry and King Tubby, but the "lovers rock" style of music is where Isaacs made his legend.

He reached his peak of popularity with the aforementioned landmark "Night Nurse." You couldn't turn on the radio or go to a party those years without hearing the refrain of the song, "Night Nurse, only you alone can quench 'dis here thirst," in your ears.

"Night Nurse" hit the charts just after Bob Marley died of cancer, and many reggae writers, obsessed with the impossible question of who would replace Marley as reggae's international ambassador, pointed to Isaacs as the rightful ruler to Marley's empty throne.

It wasn't to be.

Isaacs never produced another record to match "Night Nurse" and got busted for firearm and drug possession on multiple occasions. While still popular, Issacs career seemed to lose steam through the late 90s and in to the new century.

Some reviewers might look at the career of Isaacs as solid but a case of unfulfilled potential.

I don't because in the crowded galaxy of reggae stars who blasted across our consciousness during the 1970s and 80s - the golden era of reggae music - there was only one "Cool Ruler."

Watch Gregory Isaacs perform "Night Nurse" here: