Gospel singer David “Kukudoo” McDermott has died at the age of 56 after battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a type of blood cancer.
His family confirmed his passing in a statement shared on his official social media pages on Friday.
“It is with a heavy heart that we, the family of David ‘Kukudoo’ McDermott, have to tell the public that he passed this morning… at this time we ask for grace and respect in our time of grief,” the message said.
McDermott, a beloved figure on the Jamaican gospel scene, was diagnosed with the illness in late February.
He is survived by his three children.
A former machine operator at the now-defunct Bernard Lodge Sugar Estate, McDermott’s journey into music began in humble circumstances, performing at nine nights—locally known as “dead yards”—under the name King David.
His early breakthrough came unexpectedly when a church band performance at a nine-night event was recorded by a sound engineer and later pressed onto a CD. The recording circulated widely, and songs such as See People Business and Leave It Alone quickly gained traction across Jamaica’s public transport system, turning him into a household name.
From there, McDermott transitioned into a full-time music career, becoming a regular performer overseas and a fixture at Jamaica’s annual Independence Gala. His energetic, mento-infused gospel performances earned him a reputation as one of the genre’s most engaging live acts.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the illness he battled, is a cancer of the lymphatic system that develops when lymphocytes—either B-cells or T-cells—mutate and multiply uncontrollably, often forming tumours in lymph nodes.
Tributes have begun pouring in, including from Minister of Culture and Entertainment Olivia Grange, who described McDermott as “a cultural force whose work celebrated African-derived spiritual traditions within Jamaican society.”
“Kukudoo was a strong performer who resonated across generations and social backgrounds,” Grange said, adding that his passing is “a great loss and he would be sorely missed.”
McDermott’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief across Jamaica’s gospel and cultural communities, where he was widely admired for both his powerful voice and his grassroots rise to prominence.
, a type of blood cancer.){kind=link}