THE WEEKLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 15 - FEBRUARY 21, 2024 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 11 Sophia Findlay/Gleaner Writer THE REGGAE world is still reeling from the loss of singer Carol Brown, a Jamaican Canadian who was known for her award-winning talent. She has left an indelible mark on the hearts of music enthusiasts globally. At age 70, Brown, who shared a daughter with the late keyboard legend Jackie Mittoo, breathed her last breath on January 31, 2024, with loved ones in a hospital room. Tragically, she had been waging a fierce fight against stomach cancer, a battle she fought with unwavering strength until the very end. According to a Facebook post by Krystal Klair Mittoo, her daughter, who confirmed to the public of her mother’s passing: “My mom passed away Wednesday evening. I was right beside her when it happened. She was battling stomach cancer. I need to confirm it because so many people are asking if it’s true and I can barely answer the phone. I am in so much pain. At loss for words…RIP Mom @carolbrown.” Condolences flooded in from all corners of the music community. Bob Marley Day Humanitarian Awards recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Jay Douglas, veteran musician and reggae singer who’ve worked with her on numerous occasions, recalled their last job together on stage at Toronto City Councillor Mike Colle’s Black History Month celebration in 2023. “Carol Brown contributed to reggae in a positive way as a foundation singer. “Like Bob [Marley], Tosh [Peter], Burning Spear, Jacob Miller, Leroy Sibbles, John Holt, and all those early artistes made and recorded reggae music with a spiritual touch, and that’s what took reggae to the forefront. Carol was one such person, as they all had that one thing in common,” he reminisced during a telephone interview. Brown’s life began in Port Antonio, Jamaica, where she embarked on her musical journey at age 14 ,when she would perform locally, winning talent shows, and was a part of the duo The Loving Sisters in the ‘60s. She was the resident female singer with The Tornadoes as well. In 1972, Brown migrated to Toronto, Canada, to pursue her solo career. Though she would eventually return to her Jamaican roots and reunite with The Young Experience, formerly The Tornadoes, her influence extended far beyond national borders. The impact of Carol Brown’s talent spread even further. Her singles, such as Touch Me Baby, I Won’t Hurt Your Feelings and Feel So Good, secured her a place on the British reggae charts. Recognising her exceptional contributions, Canada bestowed upon Brown the titles of Top Female Performer and Top Female Reggae Singer at the Canadian Reggae Music Awards throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, cementing her status as an unparalleled musical force. Douglas added that she did a cover version of the popular UB40 song, Moonlight Lover, which was one of her memorable tunes. “She was a very articulate lady; well spoken,” he said, alluding to the fact that she had spent some years in England before moving to Canada. Reggae singer Carol Brown dies Carol Brown CONTRIBUTED THE JAMAICA Ex-Police Association of South Florida, Inc (JEPA) is now accepting applications for its 2024 USA scholarship cycle. The scholarship will be awarded at JEPA’s 32nd Anniversary Charity Ball on Saturday, April 27, at the Gold Coast Ballroom, 1415 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Florida 33063. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be a legal resident of Broward, Miami-Dade or Palm Beach County, Florida; must provide proof of residency; must be currently enrolled or accepted as a student in a two to four-year college programme; submit a two-page essay (81/2” x 11”), typed in 12-inch font with double spacing, explaining convincingly why he/she should be awarded this scholarship. Applications must contain the applicant’s full name, address, telephone number and email address. The financial need and scholastic aptitude of the applicants will be considered in the selection process. Students of Jamaican parentage residing in Florida counties listed above are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted via email to ivanhoewalllace@yahoo.com, siva2583ejm@att.net and sherylmarsh26@ yahoo.com. The application must also be mailed to JEPA’s scholarship chairman, Ivanhoe Wallace, c/o The Jamaica Ex-Police Association of South Florida Inc, 7153 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Lauderhill, FL 33313. The deadline for submitting applications is April 1. Applications open for Jamaica Ex-Police Association scholarship BROOKLYN, NY: CYRUS HALL, also known as Doc, Roots Man or Tonic Man, from Askenish, Hanover, Jamaica died in Queens, New York on December 25, 2023, at the age of 80 years. He had been ailing for some time. Born to Matias and Rebecca, Hall was a herbalist who founded the OrgoVitamal Roots Company with a distribution network spanning Jamaica and parts of the USA, including New York City. He attended school in Hanover and later became the head chef at the Montego Bay general hospital. Hall lived in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Haiti, before settling in New York, USA. Cyrus Hall is preceded in death by his parents and siblings and is survived by his children: Melonie, Lenneil, Latoya, Cyrus, Julia, Shenique, Cruze, Tamika and Racquel, 12 grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. His daughter Melonie noted in tribute that, “He loved to cook, this was his favourite pasttime. He told me the story of his father Matias ... how much he loved him, and that he learned from his father how to make tonics from herbs and barks of the trees.” “There are many words to express his influence in my life. It is through his example of kindness that I have learned so much. Cyrus was gentle, loving, strong and hard-working. He loved people and was deeply devoted to them. Your service to others was the rent you paid while you were on earth. I wish you eternal peace, Cyrus, Dad.” Hall’s life will be celebrated at a service of thanksgiving at the Greenland New Testament Church of God, Greenland, Hanover, Jamaica, on Saturday, February 24 at 12 noon. Interment follows in the family plot at Askenish, Hanover. Well known NYC ‘Roots Man’ dies Cyrus Hall CONTRIBUTED THE QUEEN AND HER FASHION: Off stage, one of the hits at Rebel Salute ’24 was the merchandising booth by Queens, New York City-based, Jamaican fashion designer Tamar Fray. Though not smiling all the way to the bank, her ‘Castle The Collection’ brand, featuring outerwear for the summer, went over well with the crowd attending the two-night event in St Ann, Jamaica, January 19-20. CONTRIBUTED
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