KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange has expressed shock and sadness at the death of entertainment entrepreneur Walt Crooks who died on Friday at the age of 69.

The minister in a statement this afternoon recalled that: “Walt Crooks was part of a special team that believed that Montego Bay as a tourist destination should benefit from high class entertainment.”

She noted that even while there were major annual events that took the spotlight, Crooks offered year-round entertainment at his club, Disco Inferno, and hosted almost all of the big names in Reggae music as well as foreign acts.

“Disco Inferno helped to set the standard for night time club entertainment and also did very well as a live music venue,” Grange said.

“Walt was part of the team that started Reggae Sumfest and was very committed to its growth and development.

I must pay tribute to him for his visionary approach to the music industry and his desire to see music evolve from just an art form into economic commodity that has benefitted so many people in Western Jamaica and beyond. He will be sorely missed,” the minister continued.