Drummer Willie Stewart has paid tribute to his former Third World colleague Milton “Prilly” Hamilton, who died in Florida on February 17, saying he was critical to the band’s development during the early years.

Hamilton, who was the band’s original lead singer, was 74 years-old. He was hospitalised in Kingston in early January, and went to Florida recently for further treatment for an undisclosed illness.

“Prilly stood out to me as a very disciplined, hard working member (of Third World) with certain responsibilities that he took seriously, like his lead vocals, harmonies and his duty as accountant for the band,” Stewart told Observer Online. “Prilly also played drums and had a great feel for percussion along with Carrot (percussionist Irving Jarrett) gave the band great tapestry and rhythmic pulse.”

Stewart joined Third World in December 1975, two years after it was founded by keyboardist Ibo Cooper and guitarist Stephen “Cat” Coore. While he was friends with Cooper and Coore, Stewart first met Hamilton during rehearsals for his first show with the band at the Playboy Club in Kingston on New Year’s Eve that year.

Hamilton sang lead on Third World’s self-titled debut album which was released in 1976 by Island Records. He left that year to focus on business interests as a printer, but released a number of solo singles including Beautiful People.

“After his departure from the band, we became closer friends and would work on original songs which he was the perfect go-to person as he could sing and interpret the right feel and mood for a song,” said Stewart, who left Third World in 1997.

Last March, Hamilton was a guest performer on Stewart’s Rhythms Of Africa show in Miramar, Florida which saluted Cooper who died in October 2023.

He is the latest Third World member to pass away. In addition to Cooper, the others are singer Bunny Rugs — who replaced him — who died in 2014, Jarrett in 2018, drummer Cornel Marshall in 2024 and guitarist Rupert Bent Jr, who died last January.

Prilly Hamilton is survived by five children, six grandchildren, brothers and sisters.