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The thanksgiving service for one of reggae's outstanding pioneers, Roy Shirley, will be held tomorrow at the headquarters of Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA), 5-7 Hagley Park Road, beginning at 10:00 am.
The farewell service, organised by the Ministry of Information, Youth and Culture in association with JAVAA, will be conducted by Rev Dr Lloyd Maxwell. As to be expected there will also be musical tributes from some of his peers.
These include singers Oswald "Ossie" Douglas, Ken Boothe and Joel "Bunny" Brown. The remembrance will be given by Derrick Harriott and the eulogy by well-known show promoter and broadcaster, Keith Brown.
Born Ainsworth Roy Rushton, the singer dubbed the "High Priest" whose fame was built around his unique quirk vocal styling, died in England of coronary complications on July 17. A few days after his body was discovered in his apartment by close friend and colleague, deejay Dennis Alcopone. The body was then in the custody of the British police for several weeks.
In consultation with his family, agreement was reached a week ago with the Jamaican Government to cover expenses to bring his remains home for burial.