Dancehall artiste Power Man, born Michael Davey, is still trying to recover from the tragic loss of both his parents on the same day.
Power Man’s father, Brenton Davey, died on Tuesday of this week, and the death seemingly triggered that of his wife of over 60 years, Loris Garvey-Davey, the same day.
“It’s hard losing both parents at one time, but I have to stay strong for the rest of the family,” Power Man told Loop Jamaica reporter, Claude Mills.
“My mother was 78, she would have been 79 on March 6th. She was born in Trench Town in 1940 as Loris Garvey.
She was related to Marcus Garvey. Her people were from St Ann and she use to sing in church. My father, Brenton O’Gilvey Davey, was born in 1942 in Portland.
He was a painter. He and my mom got married when they were 16 and 18 years old, respectively, and lived a happy Christian life of love. She and my father only had two sons, me and my big brother, Noel Davey,” the artiste said.
Power Man’s late father and mother, Brenton Davey, and Loris Garvey-Davey.
Musician Noel Davey and singer Wayne Smith, notably, orchestrated the ‘Under Mi Sleng Teng’ riddim on an inexpensive Casio keyboard, triggering dancehall’s digital age.
“When my mother found out that my father was dead, I think that’s what killed her. My father had diabetes, plus high blood pressure. I was there once when he got the first stroke. He could not move and I had to rush him to the hospital, but this time was different,” Power man said in a sober voice.
His parents lived in Red Hills, Blue Mountain, Belvedere, and worshipped at Holy Cross Church in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew.
The family is now busy making funeral arrangements for the deceased couple.
“I am in constant communication with family all over the world: England, Canada, Miami, USA, so we working out the details right now,” said the artiste.
Power Man was one of the biggest dancehall acts of the 1990s, scoring several chart-toppers, such as the sexually-charged ‘Stone’ and ‘Ms Kill and Bury’, follow-up radio anthems, such as ‘Serious Things Ago Happen’ and ‘Gal A Call Wi Name All Over the Ocean’.