It was an evening of glittering performances on April 5 at Swift River Center in Rosedale, New York, for Tribute To The Mighty Diamonds.

Staged by the Caribbean American Society of New York (CASONY), the event saluted the legendary roots-reggae group, best known for songs like I Need A Roof, The Right Time, and Pass The Kutchie.

“We were very pleased with the tribute which was initiated in 2022 following the passing of Tabby and Bunny Diamond. The tribute is an annual gathering of family, friends, and well-wishers to celebrate the positive, cultural, uplifting contributions made by Tabby, Bunny, Judge, and The Mighty Diamonds to the world,” Gerry Dawes of CASONY told the
Jamaica Observer. “There is much for us to give thanks for as we share, as we remain one with the process, in the celebration of life, the legacy, the message in the music of The Mighty Diamonds.”

Papa Michigan, J Written, Binghi Blaze, Marcia Davis, Cherry Rock, Barry Brathwaithe, and Alfray Music were the artistes paying tribute to the trio. They were backed by LeRoy Graham and True Tribute Band, and Derrick Barnett and the Statement Band.

Donald “Tabby Diamond” Shaw, lead singer of The Mighty Diamonds, was murdered in front of his home in Waterhouse, Kingston, on March 29 2022. He was 67.

Three days later, Fitzroy “Bunny Diamond” Simpson died in Kingston at age 70. He had been in ill health since suffering a stroke in 2015. Two of their children, Donald Shaw Jr and Rosemarie Simpson, attended the show.

Lloyd “Judge Diamond” Ferguson is the only surviving original member of the group which formed in Trench Town in 1969.

They ensemble to fame at Channel One studio during the 1970s with a series of socially-conscious songs that helped define the roots-reggae genre.

CASONY also honoured several reggae stalwarts at Tribute To The Mighty Diamonds. They were singers Fred Locks and Marcia Davis, musician Le’Roy Graham Jr, sound system selector Robert “Jah Wise” Campbell, storyteller/author Sharon Gordon, poet/artiste and show producer Kufunya Ife, and photographer Roland Hyde.

— Howard Campbell