Claude Mills, Staff ReporterUNDER A gunmetal sky full of dark thunderclouds, hundreds of persons converged on the Holy Trinity Cathedral on North Street in Kingston to pay their final respects to music pioneer Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd, yesterday.
Mourners and well-wishers came to the church as early as 1:00 p.m. Many queued, and some returned to the line more than once, to view the body as it lay in state with Dodd's favourite records.
One rastafarian man choked up when he reached the front of the line. As he stood there, all he could manage to do was mumble: "Sir Dodd, Sir Dodd, Sir Dodd..."
Other artistes like Charles 'Johnny Dollar' Garnett cried openly as the body in the casket confirmed their loss.
SOMBRE NOTE
However, while there was a sombre note with some, many others used the opportunity to renew old acquaintances. Others skanked in the courtyard to sweet harmonies from the trumpets of the Alpha Boys Band, and old Studio One rhythms as they transformed the event into a festive occasion. Dozens of photographers jostled for good shots of the Dodd family while several amateur cameramen were out in their numbers recording the event for posterity.
Transport and Works Minister, Robert Pickersgill, who is in charge of the Government in the absence of Prime Minister P.J. Patterson who is away on a business visit, was in attendance. Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Davies, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, and Member of Parliament for Central St. Catherine Olivia 'Babsy' Grange were also present.
Shocking Vibes Production head Patrick Roberts, veteran producer Bunny Lee, as well as deejay Beenie Man and dozens of artistes from the ska and rocksteady eras also paid their final respects to the man.
The officiating officers were Father Ken Richards, Reverend Oswald Tie, and organist Michael Hunter.
Vocalist Myrna Hague wowed the congregation with her sonorous voice, and Bunny Brown's falsetto voice delivering Amazing Grace lent a surreal note to the afternoon's proceedings as the rain drizzled.
Musician Peter Ashbourne also did a musical item.
Talk show host and journalist Barbara Gloudon delivered an elegant address.
"Look for him in the hereafter in the rift of Ernie Ranglin guitar when it buck up the bassline in the ritual of the ska, look for him in the melody of the piano-pounder in a beat that no engineer can replicate; look for him in the mellow Don Drummond trombone...in the kette drum, mento, clap hand, and in the time we used to show manners before badness and gun tek over," she said to shouts of approval from the congregation. "Look for him in what we used to be and could be again."
