NEGRIL, Westmoreland  — The music fraternity western Jamaica has been plunged into mourning following Tuesday’s sudden passing of 52-year-old Louis Roxborough, who goes by the moniker Chelum and Bassie, the bass guitarist of the Negril-based, Indika Band.

Chelum died early Tuesday morning shortly after returning to his Savanna-la-Mar home after the band backed performers during the weekly reggae show at Bourbon Beach in Negril.

According to Chelum’s common law wife, Asnette ‘Babs’ Gallimore, the bass guitar player fell ill shortly after he returned from the gig.

She recounted that shortly after the musician got inside the house he started to cough violently and breathe sharply.

“About 4:30 am he took pillow and lay down and started to cough and spit in a rag. He sat up and after that started to blow sharp. I asked him what happened and he said his breath is locking off. I called the called children and asked for water, But as soon as he drank the water he vomited,” Gallimore told Splash.

The distraught spouse said froth began to come from the mouth and nostrils of the musician before the ambulance came. He was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital. Family members are awaiting a post mortem to determine the cause of death.

There was much grief among the band members of the band when they received news of Chelum’s passing.

Oral ‘Drummer’ Lowe declared that Chelum is irreplaceable. “Nobody can’t replace Chelum. He is a motivator. Boy me a tell you the truth me don’t see any other musician in Negril who was as cooperative, loving in general as Chelum.”

Meanwhile, veteran crooner Jack Raddics who was the last act that the band backed on Tuesday morning was stumped by the news of Chelum’s sudden death.

Chelum who has his own band and a studio at his home is said to have toured extensively. He was scheduled to leave the island next week for a tour of the US.