At ticks to midnight last week Wednesday Aaron Silk’s vocals pierced the air as he did renditions of Garnet Silk songs such as Mama Africa, Jah Jah is The Ruler, and Watch Over Our Shoulders.

As the closing act for the ‘Music Is The Rod’ show at Footprints in New Kingston, he said there is a connection with his late sibling whenever he performs those songs.

In December it will be 30 years since Garnet Silk died in a fire at his mother’s home in Hatfield, Manchester. Aaron was at home when he got the bad news from a neighbour in Portmore.

As another milestone marking Garnet Silk’s death approaches, he hopes something will be done to commemorate his legacy.

“I really wish that we are having something to celebrate 30 years of Garnet’s passing. Unfortunately, there is no planning that I am aware of. That power is in the hands of the Garnet Silk’s estate,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “I would have loved if we were having an annual event honouring the life of this legend. It saddens my heart to see that, year after year, there is nothing to celebrate this great man and the work that he has done.

Aaron Silk launched his career shortly after his older sibling’s death. He has released one album, a number of singles and performed in North America and Europe.

Whenever he does a show, his set is a blend of originals and Garnet Silk songs.

“It is always a pleasure honouring my brother every time I step on a stage. I love performing his songs as it makes me feel so close to him. There are times when I imagine him being right there on the stage with me and that brings an overwhelming feeling of joy mixed with sadness. It is a happy place for me because that’s when I feel him the closest,” said Aaron.

Garnet Silk (real name Garnet Smith) had a glorious two-year run as leader of the roots revival of the early 1990s. Along with Tony Rebel, Yasus Afari and Everton Blender, he was member of the Christian Souljahs movement that emerged from Manchester, St Elizabeth and Clarendon with a spiritual awareness thought lost to dancehall music.

Music Is The Rod was one of the songs that made him a star. So too Kingly Character, Lion Heart, It’s Growing, Gave You Every thing, and Zion In A Vision.

He was one of the headliners for Sting 1994 on Boxing Day, but died 15 days before that event.

Last week’s show was organised by Bridgett Anderson, Silk’s former manager. It also featured Ana from Ghana, Marlon Brown, Jah Nelson from Suriname, and Hezron.