As the audience joined Ken Boothe in a rousing rendition of Freedom Street to close the Rhythms Of Africa show in Miramar, Florida on April 27, one of the persons joining him on stage was his wife, Joan, known to family and friends as Dulan.

They have been married for almost 30 years, but the Boothes have known each other since their childhood in the West Kingston community of Denham Town. They have five children and several grandchildren.

With May 11 being Mother’s Day, he paid tribute to her.

“Nobody is perfect, wi have wi disagreements like everybody else, but di most important ting is wi love each other,” said the singer, whose numerous hit songs include Everything I Own and Silver Words.

Boothe was raised on Greenwich Street in Denham Town, which has produced artistes such as Stranger Cole, Gregory Isaacs and Errol Dunkley. His wife grew up on adjacent Metcalf Street.

The 77 year-old artiste is blind and has Parkinson’s disease, but that has not stopped him from performing. He closed both nights of Rhythms Of Africa which were sold out at the Miramar Cultural Center.

Through his health challenges, he said Dulan has shown unyielding support.

Ken Boothe is used to being around strong women. He was raised by his mother, Irene Boothe, a follower of Pan African giant Marcus Garvey, Jamaica’s first National Hero.

It was Irene who inspired him to become a professional singer.

“Shi was a God-fearing woman, a Garveyite, shi teach ‘bout His Imperial Majesty (Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I),” Boothe recalled. “Shi used to love sing. All when shi washing, shi a sing. I tell yuh something, there’s nothing like a Mother’s love.”

Boothe is one of the performers for Sunday evening’s ‘GEM With A Little Help From My Friends’ at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston.