IN an amazingly interesting way, the local music fraternity said farewell to two departed legendary contributors to Jamaican music over two consecutive days this weekend.

First, it was pioneer female producer Sonia Pottinger on Friday, then yesterday the National Indoor Sports Centre came alive with the celebration for the life of the Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs.

But while there were differences, there were also commonalities in terms of the make up of the congregation at both events. The Cool Ruler attracted the larger turnout, while Pottinger’s was a much more sombre affair.

Pastor Franz Fletcher, in exhalting Isaacs’ enormous musical talent, admitted that, “Although I am the pastor of Church On The Rock, I do find time to listen to Gregory, and he’s alright.”

The Minister of Culture, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange declared: “Gregory will be forever remembered as one of the great heroes of Jamaican music. He was forever the Cool Ruler, easy on the ears, easy on the eyes, a brilliant vocalist, a focused artiste. Today, we say goodbye to one of the heroes. One who not only believed in his talent as an artiste and producer, but also believe in the culture which generated it. One who believed in his country.”

Opposition spokesman on finance, Dr Omar Davies noted that Isaacs’ music conveys messages about man-woman relationships in a way that very few could. The former minister of finance evoked laughter when he said, “Consider, for example, the tune Top Ten. Who else would be brave enough to say — “She is not in my top ten but she is still on my chart.”

Dr Davies continued, “Who else is brave enough to run through a list of possible female admirers who will send a red rose for Gregory. However, I am going to get back on the right side of the women, he was not afraid to reveal his vulnerability and to proclaim, I don’t want to be lonely tonight.”

The most charged reflection came from long-time producer and associate of the Cool Ruler, Castro Brown who was extremely critical of how officialdom has treated his departed friend. Brown is of the view that not enough was done for the artiste who has done so much for the music and by extention the country.

“I think he (Gregory) should get a better send-off. And I am disappointed. History will prove us right that there is only one of Gregory Isaacs. Let me tell you something, John Lennon, Elton John, they did for England what Gregory Isaacs did for Jamaica.”

There were also tributes from Michael Barnett who recalled the impact Isaacs had on the long-running Startime series of vintage shows. Delroy Thompson gave some amusing anecdotes about the late singer, so too, Junior Sinclair, Copeland Forbes and Harry Morell.