Trevor Shields, Voice of The Beltones’ Rocksteady Classic, Dies at 77

Trevor Shields, the lead singer of Jamaican harmony group The Beltones on their 1968 hit ‘No More Heartaches,’ passed away in Hamilton, Canada, on September 26. He was 77. His ex-wife, Kareen Perrier, confirmed that Shields died from prostate cancer.

Born in Trench Town, Shields began his music career in the mid-1960s, recording a handful of solo tracks before joining The Beltones. His biggest musical success came with ‘No More Heartaches,’ produced by Harry “Harry J” Johnson and distributed in the UK by Trojan Records, where it became a hit.

Beyond The Beltones, Shields also sang with harmony groups True Experience and The Fantels. He recorded several solo songs, including ‘Life’ for Coxsone Dodd and ‘Rough Road’ for Harry J, and collaborated with Keble Drummond of The Cables. Songs like ‘I’ll Follow You,’ ‘Moon Is Playing a Trick,’ ‘Home Without You,’ ‘Please (Stop Your Crying),’ and ‘Why Pretend’ remain part of his musical legacy.

After migrating to Canada in the 1980s, he settled in Toronto and became active in the city’s reggae community, often performing with the Majestic Warriors band. He also served as a customer service agent with the Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy for nearly three decades.

He is survived by his daughter, three grandchildren, and several siblings.

Funeral Arrangements:

• Viewing: Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. at Donald V. Brown Funeral Home, 36 Lake Avenue Dr, Stoney Creek, ON.
• Service: Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Hamilton East SDA Church, 203 Bell Ave, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Family, friends, and fans are invited to honour and celebrate the life of Trevor Ivor Shields — a man whose voice helped define the golden age of rocksteady music.