Johnny Gourzong, a co-founder of Reggae Sumfest, remembers his late colleague Robert Russell as “a giant of a man” who was never afraid to take chances.

Known to friends as Ducksie, Russell died at a Montego Bay hospital on December 11 at age 76.

The long-time friends were part of an eight-member team known as Summerfest Productions that staged the inaugural Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay in 1993. Their partners were Micky Morris, Hugh Thompson, Godfrey Dyer, Walt Crooks, Sydney Reid, and Winston Chen.

Sumfest replaced Reggae Sunsplash, which was held mainly at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay since its début in 1978. After a falling out with the St James Parish Council, Sunsplash’s owners withdrew from the tourist resort, paving the way for local interests to take up the mantle.

Gourzong, who recruited Russell for the initial Reggae Sumfest team, said the uncertain situation was tailor-made for him.

“Ducksie was the person who took the risks most people would not. His lot was a businessman who talked his talk and walked his walk,” Gourzong told the Jamaica Observer’s Splash.

Russell, who operated the popular Pier One restaurant in Montego Bay, lived in that city for almost 40 years.

Born in Kingston, he attended Calabar High School and St George’s College, and got involved in the advertising and film industries during the 1970s.

In the early 1980s he was part of an organisation looking to establish a movie set in the Barnett Street region of Montego Bay. When that venture did not materialise, Russell settled in the city and eventually purchased Pier One from previous owner Stanley Chen.

In the 1990s he also got involved in the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, another annual show in Montego Bay.

Summerfest Productions sold rights to Reggae Sumfest in 2016 to American businessman Josef Bogdanovich. Russell, who maintained ties with the event as a consultant, told the Observer at the time that it was the correct decision.

“We needed some new pairs of eyes with new energy. He [Bogdanovich] has a wealth of experience and lots of contacts, both here and overseas… as well as some visionary ideas, including streaming the festival in 3D,” he said.

Russell is survived by his wife Beverley, five children, grandchildren, a brother, and sister.