Despite losing a portion of his right leg to diabetes, deejay Major Mackerel is upbeat about his future. The veteran toaster underwent surgery on August 27 in Kingston, Jamaica.
“It feel a little strange…yuh live 52 years with two legs an’ now yuh lose one. But mi have life an’ mi give thanks,” said Major Mackerel.
He told this website that he experienced blurred vision while driving to a recording studio in Kingston two days earlier. The following day, on his way to the doctor, he felt a similar sensation.
His doctor’s diagnosis was ominous.
“Him sey ‘deejay, is either yuh leg or yuh life. Him sey, ‘yuh body poison’,” Major Mackerel related.
The artist said he was diagnosed with diabetes almost 30 years ago and has been taking medication since. Last week, his right leg became swollen, and his doctor told him that there was choice but to amputate below the knee.
Major Mackerel, whose real name is Garfield Dixon, is from the Papine area of St. Andrew parish in Jamaica. His best known songs are Dan Ban, Pretty Looks Done and Miss Getty Getty which were done in the late 1980’s.
His distinct, squeaky sound made him a dancehall favorite in the tri-state area, London and Japan. He retains a loyal fan base in those locations.
Major Mackerel expressed gratitude to his dancehall/reggae colleagues for their support during what he described as trying times.
“Di whole music fraternity give mi support. Who nuh check mi, call mi,” he said.
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