POP/ROCK - June 27, 1988

Earl Falconer, bassist for the reggae group UB40, was jailed Friday after pleading guilty to causing his brother’s death due to reckless drunk driving. Falconer, 29, had almost twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood following the accident in November, 1987, that killed his brother, Ray. At Birmingham (England) Crown Court, Judge Michael Dillon sentenced Falconer to 18 months imprisonment, with 12 months suspended, and banned him from driving for three years. UB40, whose hits include “Red, Red Wine” and a remake of Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You, Babe,” had planned a world tour starting next month. It was not immediately clear whether the tour would be affected.