The funeral for the late Derrick “Jonny” Henry, rhumba box player of the popular Jolly Boys Mento Band, will be held today at Port Antonio Apostolic Church in Portland.

The arrangements were confirmed by the group’s road manager, Rick Elgood. According to him, the 79-year-old had been ailing for some time.

“Mr Henry died peacefully at home after a short illness. He had suffered from a mild stroke a few months ago but was weakened and fell asleep peacefully in his bed — not to wake,” Elgood told the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Elgood remembers Henry for his jovial personality.

“I remember him very fondly; always a jovial fellow who loved to tell stories about the band and his life, make comment on current affairs, and was at peace with himself. He had a twinkle in his eye for the ladies and a wonderful, hearty laugh,” said Elgood.

“He was a quiet and humble man; deeply loved by all who travelled and worked with him. The thumping sound of his rhumba box will be with us always,” he continued.

Henry was the longest-playing member of the original Jolly Boys Mento Band. He had been working part-time in the kitchen of the Titchfield Hotel in Port Antonio when founder member Moses Deans asked him to join the band in 1956. He was then 16 and played maracas, congo drum and did a little dancing.

Jolly Boys members Joseph “Powda” Bennet and Albert Minott died in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

The trio came to international prominence 11 years ago when they began recording for the GeeJam label in Port Antonio. Their Great Expectations album has been compared to the Buena Vista Social Club in Cuba during the 1990s.

The Jolly Boys performed throughout Europe, the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong, and were the subject of feature stories by the Associated Press and New York Times.

Henry is survived by a twin sister Gloria and nephew Robert.