FREDDIE McGREGOR MOURNS THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER AT 97!

AT Saturday night’s tribute to reggae king Bob Marley, singer I-Octane paused his performance, asking the audience to spare a thought for another veteran of the music industry, Freddie McGregor, who has just lost his mother.

“Mek we big up Mr Freddie McGregor who just lose him mother. Nuff other artiste wouldn’t come perform tonight, but him come and deliver,” said I-Octane.

With that he launched into his popular song Mama You Alone.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer shortly afterwards, McGregor in acknowledging the commendation from his fellow artist, noted that since his mother’s passing last Thursday, he has used his performances to cope with the loss.

“I can’t find the words right now to express the way I feel, but performances like this and the love from the people really keep me going,” he said.

McGregor further explained his mother, Mahida Sappleton-Rodney, was found unresponsive on Thursday evening and was rushed to hospital where she died. She was 97 years old.

“She’s the reason I do what I do,” he noted. “When I decided to leave Clarendon and move to Kingston to become a musician, she was very supportive. The concept was I was moving out so I could help my mother. So, she prepared me, made all the arrangements and sent me off. When I settled down in Kingston, she would always come to look for me… there are just no words to describe my mother… no words. She was the love of my life,” he said.

— By Richard Johnson