As Desi Jones dies, Chalice’s Wayne Armond gives May 11 the ‘side-eye’

If there’s ever a date that Chalice’s Wayne Armond is giving the ‘boombastic side-eye’, it’s May 11.

In this social media driven era, it’s only too easy to picture a laughter-inducing meme depicting this reality. But there’s nothing funny “ha-ha” about the events leading to Armond’s decision, instead, it is funny “strange”.

Believe it or not, three of the people dearest to Armond all died on May 11.

“Bob Marley, who is my musical hero, died on May 11, 1981; my beloved brother, Chris Armond of racehorse fame, died on May 11, 2022; and Desi Jones, my beloved friend, died on May 11, 2024. So, that’s a day that I am going to be very scared of for the rest of my life,” Armond told The Gleaner at the thanksgiving service for Jones on Monday.

Now residing overseas, Armond was one of hundreds who packed the Holy Trinity Church on North Street to pay their last respects to master drummer, Desi Jones, whose sudden death at age 65 sent the music industry in shock and mourning.

“I had to be here because, firstly, I am an original member of Chalice, as Desi was; secondly, we have been friends for 46 years; and thirdly, he is one of my greatest inspirations. If you look at the turnout in the church today you will know how loved Desi was and how many lives he affected in a positive way. I live in Florida now, but I had to make it a point to come for this celebration,” Armond said.

Reggae band, Chalice, was formed in 1980 and by 1981 they savoured success locally. Their début album, Blasted, (1982) contained the hit singles I Still Love You and Good To Be There. Their second album, Standard Procedure, was also popular with the singles I’m Trying and Can’t Dub. A third album, Stand Up, was released and scored another hit in Jamaica with the single, Dangerous Disturbances. For three years Chalice toured Europe, and later focused on the United States and Mexico, and released the album, Crossfire. Other albums from the group included Catch It and Si mi ya.

“I was tremendously shocked because Desi wasn’t ailing,” Armond stated. “I spoke to Desi two weeks before his passing. It was actually while I was posting a tribute to my brother on Facebook, that I got a message on my phone saying, ‘Sorry to hear about Desi’ and I said Desi who?”

Jones became the fourth member of the original Chalice band to make his transition.

From memory, Armond sombrely read out the names of the fallen soldiers: “Robbie Peart, victim of cancer; Mikey Wallace, victim of murder; Trevor Roper, victim of cancer and Desi Jones, victim of heart attack. Irvin Lloyd, Wayne Armond, Keith Francis ... keyboards, guitar and bass ... are the only three remaining original members of Chalice.”

Francis and Lloyd simply nodded in agreement as Armond spoke.

“Desi was to me one of the most passionate musicians I have ever known. He lived for playing drums. You know what I am happy for about Desi? I am happy that his last gig was a jazz gig with the greats ... Mandela, Orville and the young Oshane. And Desi must have been in his element,” Armond shared.

Desi Jones passed away on May 11 after being found unresponsive at home by his son. His last gig was the night before his death at Herbie Miller’s Friday Night Jazz at F&B Downtown.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com