A spiritual artiste, Max Romeo could not have asked for a more fitting thanksgiving service than what took place at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston on May 17.

A number of musical tributes were paid to the singer-songwriter who died on April 11 in St Catherine at age 80.

Artistes, led by his son Azzizi, Iba Mahr, Warrior King, Dean Fraser, IREE SistarZ, Dimario McDowell and members of Romeo’s Charmax Band, performed renditions of his most cherished songs.

There was a heavy downpour for most of the four-hour service, which was attended by Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, and Deborah Hickling, the Opposition spokesperson for entertainment.

Azzizi said his father was a committed Rastafarian with a profound love for Jamaica.

Entertainment Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange signs the condolence book at the funeral service for Max Romeo. (Joseph Wellington)

“My father loved him country; is not a man wha’ love glamour an’ glitz but him like fi feel appreciated. I know dat him spirit is here an’ him spirit at peace fi si seh not jus’ him family love him, but him friends love him — everybody love him,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Backed by guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith’s Binghistra Movement, Azzizi performed Jordan River, one of his father’s many hit songs. He was accompanied on Three Blind Mice by Warrior King, and War ina Babylon by Iba Mahr.

IREE SistarZ, a harmony trio, did justice to Marcia Griffiths’s He’s A Legend; similarly McDowell with Creator, the Peter Tosh hymn; while Fraser performed Rastaman Chant and The Lord’s Prayer.

As the service closed, members of Charmax, who flew in from the United Kingdom, performed Chase The Devil, one of Romeo’s biggest hits.

Grange, who knew him for over 50 years, told the audience that his life was one of achievement.

“We can say that his 80 years with us were well-spent. Well-spent as a good father, well-spent as a kind man, well-spent as a community person, well-spent as a humble, very humble individual. And, more than all, well-spent as one of Jamaica’s greatest songwriters and singers, and one of Jamaica’s greatest pioneers in our industry,” Grange said.

Among those attending the service were musicians Lloyd Parks, Robbie Lyn, George “Dusty” Miller of The Firehouse Crew; producers Blacka Dread, Clive Hunt, Colin “Bulby” York, Mafia and Fluxy and Bunny Lee Jr; booking agents Michel Jovanovic, Cabel Stephenson and Copeland Forbes; artistes Stranger Cole, Micah Shemaiah and Kumar Bent; and British music publishers Kennedy Mensah and John Handle, as well as music industry players such as June Isaacs and Bridgett Anderson.