Music industry represents at glorious service for the life of Claudette Kemp

There were many heart-warming moments at last Wednesday’s funeral service for Claudette Kemp, the manager of reggae artiste Capleton, and for those who find comfort in a belief that she is looking down, then she certainly would have been smiling.

Not only was the Boulevard Baptist Church at its capacity – a rarity for funerals for music industry personnel – what was truly special was the wide cross-section of players who “just had to come” to pay tribute to the 76-year-old Claudette Kemp, who Deacon Joseph McIntyre in his sermon likened to the biblical Queen Esther, for her purpose to transform lives and her exceptional bravery as one of the few female managers in a male-dominated music industry.

Among the music industry stalwarts who were present were Gussie Clarke, Desi Young, Jack Scorpio, Bongo Herman, Nadine Sutherland, Frankie Campbell, Deh Deh Blacks, Clive Hunt, Finga Stewart, Isaiah Laing, Dean Frazer, Chris McDonald, Howard McIntosh, Dennis Howard, Michelle Williams, Jerome Hamilton, DiMario McDowell, Tasz Smith, Lydia Rose, Bridget Anderson, Richie Stephens, One Blood Carl, and the almost reclusive Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, whose Binghistra drummers were a favourite of Kemp.

But the younger players also dressed up, showed up and stayed till the end. Among them were producers Troyton, Christopher Birch, Mr G, singer Romain Virgo and Rasheed Hammond.

It was an afternoon on which there was much good talk and a lot to learn. First up was Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Steve McGregor, who simply “had to be there”. He shared a heart-warming story of meeting Claudette Kemp decades ago while he was stationed at Rockfort and how she got interested when she overheard him counselling the mother of a young runaway girl who had recently returned home. She immediately wanted to become a part of this area of policing that she didn’t know existed. He shared how Kemp got involved in reopening the canteen at the station so the officers could get a hot meal “and she never made a cent off it”. McGregor recalled that when Lasco introduced the Policeman of the Year award, Kemp encouraged his colleagues to nominate him. McGregor became the first winner of that prestigious award.

“Miss Kemp was with us when we brought down the crime rate in Rockfort; she was a God-given lady and she did what she was sent here to do. On behalf of the police officers, thanks for sending this angel into our lives,” McGregor said in closing.

TRIBUTE

Howard McIntosh read a tribute from Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, who hailed Kemp as an exceptional artiste manager, and family friend Evah Gordon gave her a new title – the Mother Teresa of the music business.

Listening attentively throughout was Kemp’s 94-year-old mother, Amy Rose, who sat quietly beside her grandchildren, listening to all speak glowingly of her daughter. She was visibly moved when Capleton, the artiste who Claudette Kemp managed for more than 21 years, sang his manager’s favourite song, Head Above the Water. It is a song about doing all the good you can while here on Earth. It was an emotional delivery and the Fireman fought hard to hold back the tears that not even the hottest fire could quench. “Hol’ it King Shango! Hol’ it!” were the words of comfort shouted out by those close to Capleton, following an embrace from his ‘wife’ Sue Bennett, right after he paid tribute to his second mother.

Musical tributes came from DiMario McDowell, Dean Fraser, Chris McDonald and Bowie, while Laurell Nurse, CEO and founder of Queen Of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremony (QORIHC), made a presentation of the new award to Kemp’s son Jason. Kemp was appropriately crowed QORIHC queen in 2019.

A repast followed at the Police Officers’ Club on Hope Road.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com