Jah Shaka, the reggae legend, passed away just days after announcing a new tour date.

Jah, also known as Zulu Warrior was a pioneering member of the roots reggae Jamaican sound system in London.

In the days that preceded his death, the producer had just announced a new tour date of August 19, 2009.

The news was shared by Horsepower Productions's Benny Ill, with a Twitter post earlier this afternoon. It was accompanied by a photo of Shaka DJing, and was captioned: "Rest In Power Jah Shaka". His cause of death is currently unknown.

Dubstep producer the Bug wrote: "So sad to read Jah Shaka has departed this planet ... Rest in peace. A heroic figure who kept Dub alive, when few cared ... I spent many all-nighters being transfixed by his passion and selections."

He was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. He has been based in southeast London ever since 1956. His successful career began as an operator for the Freddie Cloudburst Sound System.

In 1956, he moved to London and experienced the racism of the Windrush generation.

In Sheep’s Clothing Hi-Fi quoted the icon as saying that the environment was described by the icon in an interview. He said: "In London's Windrush time, signs were posted on the doors of houses saying no Blacks, no Irish, and no dogs.

"In the 1950s and 1960s in London, there were house parties – 50, 60 people with only record players.

“It helped families know other families, which was important at that time because the people were forced to be segregated."

But, by the 1970s, the legendary musician was operating his own sound system, The Jah Shaka Sound System, producing many iconic reggae tracks and running his own record label - Jah Shaka Music.

And in 1980, Jah Shaka starred as himself in the movie Babylon, which portrayed the racial tensions he battled when he moved to the UK. His work was recognized for attracting an audience from all backgrounds and ages - which he claimed to be the purpose of his Rastafarian beliefs.

So sad