Delroy ‘Speedy’ Sterling—-
Popular radio personality, emcee and founder of the Canadian Reggae Music Achievement Award, Delroy Sterling, passed away on Sunday at the Etobiocoke General Hospital in Canada.
Reports are that Speedy, as he was affectionately called, collapsed at home on Friday and was immediately taken to the hospital, but never recovered from what was said to be complications cause by a brain tumor.
In an interview with chatychaty.com, Canada-based reggae artiste Steele, whose friendship with Delroy goes back over a decade, confirmed that the popular radio disc jock had been diagnosed with the tumor some two years ago. Other sources say that in the last six months, there had been noticeable chages in the mannerism and behaviour of the jovial, high energy Sterling, who was known for always dancing along.
“Yes, it had become apparent that Delroy was ill, to the extent that people began asking what was wrong with him. His walk had slowed down and his eyesight had been afected,” a grieving Steele said. “On Friday morning his wife found him collapsed at home and he was rushed to hospital. However, he was slipped into a coma and his vital signs started shutting down,” Steele added.
Over the weekend, friends and family poured into the hospital to visit with Speedy, although he could not recognise anybody.
“Delroy was well loved and once the news got around, persons stopped what they were doing and headed to the hospital. Some of theose who visited with him were Danae Peart CHRY, Tony Scott, Adela ‘Rose’ Steele, Big Rob Patty World, Caribbean Queen Jerk Drum, Denise Jones (Jambana) and the list goes on,” explained Steele, who was with his friend at the hospital from Friday until the time of his passing on Sunday.
Reports are that on two separate occasions, Delroy had checked into the hospital to remove what was said to be a “massive tumor”, but subsequently checked himself out. “The last time he left the hospital because he said he overheard doctors making plans to kill him, but that was obviously because he was at the stage where the tumor was interfering with his brain functions,” one person explained.
Known for his passion for reggae music, Delroy’s labour of love on radio station 105.5FM is well documented and he is credited with ‘bussing’ many Jamaican artistes in Canada.This led to him starting the Canadian Reggae Music Achievement Awards five years ago.
“Delroy loved reggae music like nothing else and many artists owe their popularity in Canada to him,” said Steele, who is himself a beneficiary of Delroy Sterling’s dedication to the music.
Delroy ‘Speedy’ Sterling hangs out with two honorees, Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess and Mr Vernon at the event three years ago—-
It was therefore with much sadness that the station took the decision to remove him from air, when it became apparent that his illness was interfering with his carrying out his duties. Delroy was reportedly having difficulty seeing the board and he would start sentences and could not finish them.
Accordng to Steele, “Everybody miss Sterling already. He had introduced this expression ‘Zoom’, so at an event last night, it was like the password. All you could hear was ‘Zoom’.”
Delroy is survived by his son, his daughter and his wife.
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