By Copeland Forbes
Funeral service for the late Reggae/Dancehall crooner Frankie Paul was held at the Olson Memorial Church of God on Hope Road in Jamaica on Saturday June 17th. Despite the inclement weather, a small portion of the music industry, along with family members, turned out to pay respect.
Members of the music fraternity in attendance were JAVA president Frankie Campbell (of Fab 5 band); president of the JFM (Jamaica Federation of Musician) Desmond Jones; entertainment managers Robert Livingston, Copeland Forbes, Teddy Laidley, and Dewy Reid; producers George Phang, Blaker Dread; entertainers Half Pint, George Nooks, Luciano, Georgia Henry, Junior Sinclair, Charley Chaplin, and Bongo Herman and several others (some gave live musical performances). Member of Parliament, Anthony Hylton (from the opposition party PNP) was also in attendance.
The main address was given by Minister of Culture-Entertainment-Sports and Gender Olivia “Babsy” Grange who delivered a very strong message directed at the music fraternity that entertainers must “PUT THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER” which garnered a standing ovation and much applause by those in attendance. She emphasized that too many times entertainers pass away without proper arrangements for burial put in place, and family members are left to pick up the pieces many times scrambling to get funds to take care of burial arrangements, which makes her very upset as she always has to step in to see them through.
Internment was at the Dovecot Memorial Park in St. Catherine.
Photo L to R: musician Asher; Minister of Culture, Entertainment & Gender, Olivia Babsy Grange; UK record producer Blacka Dread (Paul’s former manager); Copeland Forbes; and label mate Singer Half Pint
