Dr. Audley “Knapp” Betton— DR. Audley “Knapp” Betton, former member of vocal quartet Casual T, died at his St Andrew home on May 27. The 73-year-old physician had been ailing for some time. His death was confirmed by his younger brother, Dr Horace “Poley” Betton. “He was battling prostate cancer for a couple of years, but the last two years had been challenging,” Betton told the Jamaica Observer. “We’re mourning but, at the same time, we’re thankful that the … Read entire article »

By Kediesha Perry/Observer writer— Skeng EMBATTLED dancehall deejay Skeng was hurriedly ushered off stage as gunshots rang out during Baderation Concert at the National Park, Georgetown, in Guyana on Friday. He was the headliner. The 21-year-old deejay — whose given name is Kevaun Douglas — was approximately 15 minutes into his set when an unidentified patron discharged his firearm in a gun salute as he performed Protocol. Members of the crowd began scrambling for cover. However, based on videos … Read entire article »

Junior Braithwaite—. Youngest member of The Wailing Wailers that formed in Trench Town circa 1963, Junior Braithwaite, may also be the group’s most tragic story. In June 1999, he was shot and killed at a friend’s house in Kingston. Braithwaite was 49 years old and attempting to resurrect a music career that began promisingly. His heartfelt vocals on the ballad It Hurts To Be Alone remains Braithwaite’s signature song. In a 1998 interview with the Jamaica Observer, he recalled recording the … Read entire article »

By Yasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer— Shaggy arrives at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas.— The year was 2019, and Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell, without any trace of cockiness, told The Gleaner, “I was born for greatness. I come from a Rae Town tenement, but I understood that you can’t form fool when you are ‘the chosen’. Man is just a tool for that higher power, … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell— Filberto “Fil” Callender, an unheralded musician who played on some of reggae’s biggest hit songs, died here May 27 at age 75. Robbie Lyn, his colleague of over 50 years, confirmed his death. Callender was born in Panama but migrated to Jamaica with his family during the 1950s. In the 1960s, he was resident drummer at Studio One in Kingston where he played on songs like the seminal Satta Masa Gana by The Abyssinians, considered … Read entire article »