A fair-sized gathering mainly of members of the media fraternity converged on the grounds of the town office of Irie FM last Friday evening for a candlelight celebration in honour of Karl Young, the late founder/owner of Irie FM radio station.

Candles apart, the occasion at Courtney Walsh Avenue (formerly Derrymore Road) location of Irie FM’s sister station Zip FM, was a lively affair, in a manner that epitomised the spirit and personality of the departed patriarch of the two popular broadcasting entities.

As he would have wanted it, was a night devoid of formalities, pomp and pageantry. One thing it was not short of, was music — reggae music of course — which flowed as much as the variety of brews and delicacies.

In a brief reflection by Cordel Green of the Broadcasting Commission, Young was hailed for his indelible mark on first, the local media landscape, and by extension the world.

“One of the things, he (Karl Young) was particularly good at was giving opportunities to young people,” Green told the gathering.

One of the young persons whose talent as a broadcaster Karl Young facilitated, was DJ Bones who revealed another creative by mimicking the mannerism of his former boss in a ‘conversation’ with Schmidt concerning media ownership.

Among those who came out in celebration of “a wonderful life of a wonderful man” were CVM’s David McBean, Power 106 FM’s Newton James, Neville James of Broadcasting Commission, journalist Darren Henry, popular Zip disc jock Tricia ‘Sparks” Spence, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM) Desmond Young, well known entertainer George Nooks, singer Sophia Brown and actress Rosie Murray to mention a few.

Karl Young died who died on in a Chicago hospital on June 10, is to be buried tomorrow in St Ann.