PJ Patterson, AJ Brown remember Ibo Cooper, ‘an envoy of Jamaican reggae to the world’

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica Percival James Patterson and musician, A J Brown, have added their voices to the chorus of tributes to Ibo Cooper, who has been hailed by his family as “a phenomenonal man, a wonderful father and a man whose talents were extraordinary and pure genius”.

Noting that “Jamaica’s entertainment landscape has lost one of its most venerable stalwarts with the passing of Kingsley Michael Moncrieffe ‘Ibo’ Cooper”, Patterson stated that during his prime ministerial tenure and retirement, he and Cooper “indulged frequently in conversations aimed to realise his dream”.

That dream was the building of an arts and entertainment complex that would include a space for concerts. Cooper, Patterson noted, had identified lands adjacent to the stadium and had an outline design ready to proceed.

“When eventually it is constructed, as the need is compelling, I hope his efforts will not be forgotten as we perpetuate his sterling contribution. Amidst personal sorrow, with the passing of his loving wife Althea Joy Atkinson Cooper and his son, music producer and disc jock Arif Cooper earlier this year, Ibo’s fortitude remained unshaken, his commitment to music and teaching undeterred,” the former prime minister said.

He added, “As we bid adieu to Ibo Cooper, a solemn, yet proud note of gratitude resonates across the Jamaican musical community and beyond. His passing is a somber pause in our collective melody, yet his legacy is a dignified continuum that will inspire generations.”

Describing the Jamaica College old boy - who earned the title Mr Showbiz while in school - as “a maestro of the keyboard, a thoughtful songwriter, and a vocalist with a touch of Jamaican grace”, Patterson said that Cooper’s creative spirit found a new horizon when he co-founded Third World alongside the talented Steven ‘Cat’ Coore in 1973.

“He was not just a musician, but an envoy of Jamaican reggae to the world. His music was an elegant tapestry of Jamaica’s cultural narrative that reached hearts globally, aiding in carving a distinguished place for reggae on the world stage. Their collaboration was more than a band; it was a narrative of Jamaican culture and expression.”

Tracing his trajectory, Patterson noted that after 25 years of touring, Cooper embraced a new role in the late 1990s, that of mentor and devoted teacher at the Edna Manley College.

“His approach wasn’t merely pedagogical, but a hand-holding of young musicians towards finding their rhythm in the vast ocean of music. His last years were a soothing note of guidance and mentorship, which he delivered with the poise of an international maestro, yet with the warmth of a true Jamaican soul,” Patterson declared.

AJ Brown, the current lead singer for Third World Band, hailed Cooper as the person who had a profound influence on his musical career.

“Third World used to perform frequently at the poolside of the Holiday Inn Rose Hall, Montego Bay in the mid to late 1970s and I was a fan. I finally met the members in the 1980s while establishing my solo career and pursuing an art degree at the CTC (now the EMCVPA) in Kingston. In the ensuing years I would spend a lot of time around the band, especially Ibo and his family Joy, young Arif and Ariana, I even remember singing background vocals on some of the songs now in our album catalogue,” Brown recalled.

He paid tribute to Cooper’s song-writing ability, sharing that one of his hits Love People, “was co-written by Ibo while driving from ZincFence to the many recording studio sessions and rehearsals”.

He paid tribute to Cooper for supporting and nurturing his songwriting abilities, for securing his first royalties from a movie track for his guidance in starting up my own publishing company.

“Ibo has shared his talents with millions of fans worldwide, shared his conscious musical enlightenment with thousands of young musicians in Jamaica and the Caribbean diaspora. The world will forever enjoy the unique sound and vast musical catalogue of Third World because of the musical genius of K. Michael Ibo Cooper. I will miss him,” Brown stated.

Ibo Cooper passed away on Thursday, October 12. He was serving as the head of the Caribbean, Latin America, and Jazz Department, now known as Popular Music Studies, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.