Singers and players of instruments turned out in their numbers at the Webster Memorial United Church in St Andrew on Wednesday to pay tribute to the life of Irvin “Carrot” Jarrett, former percussionist with reggae band Third World.

Tributes in word, movement, music, and song flowed during a three-hour-plus service, all extolling the virtues of the man they called father, husband, grandfather, brother, and friend.

Being a musician, it was only natural that music would form a great part of the proceedings led by the drum. For openers, the corps of drummers from local dance troupes L’Acadco and the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) heralded the start of proceedings. The NDTC’s drummers would return later in the programme with excerpts from the music from their work Drumscore.

Third World made their presence felt when original vocalist with the band Prilly Hamilton stepped forward to perform Always Around, a track written by Jarrett at the time of the birth of his first child, son Ard. The band’s guitarist Stephen “Cat” Coore was soulful on cello for this piece.

Singer and percussionist Feluke, who is recovering from cancer, performed a moving blend of the classic hymn It is Well With My Soul and his own track Soul Alive, which was said to be a favourite of Jarrett.

The trio of Elan Neil, Keisha Patterson and Renee Rattray took Dreamland — made popular by Marcia Griffiths and also recorded by Third World — to another level, with voices blending and resonating  throughout the Corporate Area church which was filled to capacity. Patterson also performed the popular Never Walk Alone. Dean Fraser gave another of his signature performances on saxophone which including his soulful take on You Raised Me Up.

For the artistic director of L’Acadco Dr L’Antoinette Stines, Jarrett will always be remembered as her first dance partner at the Harbour View Dance Academy headed by Alma Mock Yen. She then danced, impressing many with her high kicks and extensions through the aisles of the church.

Jarrett’s five children,  Ard, Rain, Sky, Summer and Judah also paid tribute to their father. Rain, his eldest daughter, spoke on behalf of her siblings.

“Daddy had a powerful presence. He walked into a room with his fashionable self, shirt well-fitted and there was just something about him. But most of all, he reminded us to be kind, be present, and just live good,” she stated.

His widow, Alisia, was a mix of emotions as she  shared with those gathered her sorrow and pain at losing the man she married six years ago.

“I have never been loved by anyone the way Carrot loved me. I’m blessed and happy as he brought me nothing but joy and happiness. His spirit surrounds me and I am comforted knowing he consoles me when I am weak,” she said.

Jarrett died on July 31 after he was found unresponsive in his St Andrew home. He was rushed to the Andrews Memorial Hospital in St Andrew where he was pronounced dead.