ROBI Peart, an original member of the Chalice band, died on August 4 at age 61.

Peart’s son, Jason, told Splash that his father died at home.

The jocular singer/guitarist was part of the Chalice line-up that emerged in 1981 with the hit ballad I Still Love You.

Peart was lead singer on several of the band’s popular songs, such as Praise Him, I’m Trying and Ragga Reggae.

Guitarist/singer Wayne Armond, another founding member of Chalice, knew Peart for over 40 years. He remembers him as a ‘great songwriter’, adding: “Robi had a great sense of humour, a lotta energy and creativity.”

Peart and his younger brother, Gary, had been involved in music since their years as students at Campion College. They were in bands such as The Virtues and Young World which played school barbecues in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Prior to Chalice, he recorded a solo album Jamming in Negril.

Formed in 1980, Chalice was Peart’s most successful music venture. The original line-up also included Keith Francis (bass), Mikey Wallace (keyboards), Trevor Roper (guitar/vocals), Desi Jones (drums) and Ervin ‘Alla’ Lloyd (keyboards).

Wallace and Roper died in 1999 and 2013, respectively.

Peart left the band in 1985 and went on to work with artistes on the North Coast hotel circuit. Robi Peart is survived by his wife, brother, sister, three children and four grandchildren.

— Howard Campbell