Claudette Kemp, the insurance executive who became an influential figure in the music industry, died on June 9 at age 75 in St Andrew.

She passed after a lengthy battle with complications related to her kidneys.

Since 2000, she has been manager for the reggae artiste Capleton, whose fiery persona contrasted her easy-going manner.

Prior to that, Kemp managed Beres Hammond for over a decade. She was also associated with singer Keith Poppin, whose 1980 Festival Song contest campaign she managed.

Poppin told the Jamaica Observer that he first met the Manchester-born Kemp while she was a claims manager at Dyoll insurance company.

Kemp is credited as producer of his entry, Jamdown Festival, which was released on Peter Tosh’s Intel Diplo label.

In a 2016 interview with the Observer Kemp spoke about her relationship with Capleton.

“I’ve watched him mature and grow as an artiste and as a professional. I’ve had the opportunity to travel the world with him, and that’s a high point for me,” she said.

Fellow artiste manager and set designer Bridgett Anderson told the Observer that Kemp was her “sister in Christ”.

“I don’t recall how we met, but she involved me to do decorations for all the productions she was a part of from St Mary Mi Come From to birthday parties, even weddings. She was indeed an exceptional human being as a Joseph [born in February] she spoke her truth unapologetically with love,” said Anderson. “Her kind nature was experienced by all who came in contact with her, she always was willing to give a helping hand.”

Capleton hailed his late manager as the consummate professional.

“Miss Kemp ah one ah di nicest woman. She’s stern, she’s strict, she nuh deal wid foolishness, [and] she nuh ‘fraid ah nobody. Yuh coulda bad till yuh cyaan bad nuh more… Even working with promoters, if she feel like seh some promoters nuh understand promoting a show, she give dem advice,” Capleton told the Observer.

“She neva have a problem wid no one in the world nuh matter what happened. Like when mi fi get di balance of the money and dem [promoters] nuh have it, she was one of dem persons weh wouldn’t even let mi nuh guh on stage fi perform fi di fans because she feel like seh the fans dem more important,” he added.

Capleton expressed in an Instagram post on Saturday that Kemp’s support extended beyond her role as manager as she was very helpful when he lost his mother in May 2020.

The deejay said that those who encountered Kemp share similar sentiments about her admirable qualities.

“Everybody nuh have nothing bad fi seh ’bout Miss Kemp. She’s a real engineer, [she’s an] extraordinary woman…she love give back…everybody respect her. She’s a very understanding woman, too. She’s like a friend to me, she’s like a sister, she’s like a mother,” Capleton said.

In the meantime, the entertainer is expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans, and is encouraging those who knew Kemp to emulate her.

“We give thanks for her professionalism, and we give thanks for her work and she left footprints in the sand of time for people to follow. Mi wah seh respect to all di fans out deh inna the world weh send condolences. The foundation weh she set, wi haffi just carry it on. We know seh she aguh deh yah wid we inna spirit, and whatever she contribute to the business and the world, it won’t be forgotten,” Capleton said.