VETERAN broadcaster, singer, actor and author Neville Willoughby died yesterday following a motor vehicle accident on Tuesday night.

The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) report that his Mitsubishi Buzz motor car collided with a BMW at the corner of Farewell Avenue and Molynes Road in Arlene Gardens, St Andrew.

Both drivers were said to have suffered injuries. Willoughby suffered head injuries and was admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies. He succumbed to his injuries at about 10:00 am yesterday, while the other driver was treated and released.

Willoughby is survived by two daughters – Justine, a supermodel and former Miss Jamaica Universe (1995), and Marisa. A broadcaster for close to 50 years, he was connected with both Radio Jamaica and the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).

He has had several programmes on both stations over the years, ranging from the adult-oriented favourite Pipeline to the children’s programme, Colgate Cavity Fighters Club. The latter he hosted with another veteran, Marie Garth, as “Uncle Neville and Aunty Marie”.

Willoughby was also among the first Jamaicans to play a leading role in the annual pantomime, playing hotel owner “Roger Martin” in the Little Theatre Movement’s (LTM) Queenie’s Daughter in the 1963/64 season.

As a singer, he had two well-known singles, Christmas in JA and I Love Jamaica, which were included in Trojan’s Reggae Christmas and Carnival compilation cds respectively.

Willoughby also wrote a book – Jamaica Boy – which recalled the late 1960s in Jamaica and which, according to him, “started out as an academic paper on the recording industry in Jamaica in the late 60s, but turned out to be a racy, raunchy story of an American pop singer who comes to Jamaica to record reggae and meets a popular Jamaican disc jockey”. The veteran broadcaster was, however, best known internationally for his interviews with the late reggae idol Bob Marley in 1973 and 1978 – shortly before Marley started his global climb and his famous “Peace Concert” at the National Stadium respectively.

The most popular of the interviews, the 1973 one, was eventually released on CD and has become one of the best media insights into Marley’s early views and thoughts.

The condolences poured in yesterday as news of his death spread. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, in a statement to the media, described Willoughby as an “extraordinary communicator”. She noted that he had used the radio airwaves as a means to providing credible, vital and unbiased information to the people of Jamaica.

“He not only portrayed the culture of the Jamaican people through radio, but was (also) an active participant in its development through the arts in his capacity as singer and songwriter,” the prime minister said.

Opposition leader Bruce Golding, in his tribute, described Willoughby’s passing as “tragic and untimely”, adding that it “robbed us of one of the pioneers of modern broadcasting who was a master at his craft and a tutor to succeeding generations of broadcasters”. Golding said that in addition, Willoughby was a “fine human being with an endearing personality and personal charm”.

The Broadcasting Commission and the Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) also issued releases expressing regrets at his passing.

henryb@jamaicaobserver.com