A recording studio at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts will be refurbished and named in honor of Kingsley Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper, the co-founder of the Third World band.
Cooper died on October 12 at age 71 after a battle with cancer for several years. He was laid to rest on Thursday, October 26, following a funeral service at the University of the West Indies chapel in Kingston.
During the service, State Minister Norman Dunn delivered a tribute on behalf of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Olivia Grange.
Grange described Cooper as a passionate musician, even in his later years as a lecturer.
“He (Cooper) was passionate about everything he did, and had a way of making the simplest thing sound exciting, in fact, he often used the sense of humour so effectively, simplifying complex ideas.
“I will be working closely with the principal of the Edna Manley School to refurbish the recording studio, and to have it named in his honor,” Grange proclaimed in her tribute read by Dunn.
Third World was originally formed in 1973 by Cooper, a keyboardist, and guitarist/cellist Steven “Cat” Coore. Cooper left the band in 1997.
Cooper later served as head of the Caribbean, Latin American, and jazz department, now called Popular Music Studies, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston.
The Third World family, comprising Cat Coore, Willie Stewart, Richie Daley, Prilly Hamilton, Tony Williams, Norris Webb, AJ Brown, Karl Barovier, and Robbie Lyn delivered ‘Dreamland’ as one of the musical contributions during the service. An ensemble from the Edna Manley College also paid tribute.
Tributes were also delivered by several guests inclucing Dorrett Campbell, interim principal of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and Mark Golding, leader of the People’s National Party.
“Ibo Cooper was a visionary, an intellectual person, with a progressive outlook on life, with a passion for social justice,” Golding said.
Earlier this year, the son of Ibo Cooper, popular DJ Arif Cooper had died. Ibo’s wife of 50 years also predeceased him by two weeks.
He is survived by three children, Arianne, Akiri and Abean.
