A colleague of musician Desmond Miles of the Mighty Vikings, who died December 11 in South Florida, remembers him as a dedicated family man and friend.

"He was very kind. I can remember him always coming to Orlando to visit me and giving support," said singer Sonny Wong, who leads a version of the Mighty Vikings in that Florida city.

"There is nothing bad that anyone can say about him. Music was his world," Wong added.

According to Wong, Miles, a bassist, was the driving force behind the Mighty Vikings. He was not only band leader but manager as well.

"I don't know how the remaining members will react with not having him there," Wong said.

A 12-piece, the Mighty Vikings formed in Kingston during the 1960s, playing at parties and in the city's clubs.

The band split in the 1970s when Miles and his family moved permanently to the United States. He reformed the Mighty Vikings in 1997 in Miami.

The funeral service for Desmond Miles takes place Saturday at the Kendall Community Church of God in Florida.

"We ask that everyone manage this as a celebration of his life. The event will include musical tributes and performances. Our family asks that donations be made to the Alpha Boys' School to benefit the music programme," his daughter Jennifer requested in a Facebook posting.