The Jamaican public will get to pay their respects to late Jamaican musician, Aston “Family Man” Barrett, during a public funeral on March 5.
Barrett, who was the bass player and musical director for Bob Marley and The Wailers, died on February 3 at the age of 77.
The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange announced that members of the public will be able to view the remains of the musician at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on March 5, beginning at 10 AM.
Barrett will also be given public funeral service at the same venue, starting at 11 AM.
Mourners have been requested to wear white.
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Over the weekend, a private funeral service was held for Barrett in the United States.
Though the service was attended by family and specially-invited guests, it was live-streamed on YouTube.
An invitation posted on YouTube stated: “We invite you to join us virtually in a celebration of life for Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett on February 24, 2024. As we gather to honour his memory and legacy, let us come together online to share in the spirit of community and remembrance that Aston cherished so deeply. Please note, this is a private event, but we are pleased to offer a live stream for those who wish to join us in remembrance.”
At the ceremony, all the attendees were dressed in white and the coffin was draped in purple as well as with the Rastafarian flag. Among the players of instruments participating in the more than three-hour-long ceremony were Julian Marley and Aston Barrett Jr.
Barrett’s legacy
Barrett played on Marley and the Wailers’ outstanding albums including Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, and Exodus. When Marley died in May 1981 from cancer at age 36, Barrett took over the reins and made The Wailers Band one of reggae’s best touring bands.
Within The Wailers, Barrett took on the responsibilities of song arrangement, co-production, and engineering.
In 2021, Barrett was honored with Jamaica’s Order of Distinction (Commander class) for his contributions to reggae music.
Read more: Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, former bassist of Bob Marley & The Wailers, has died
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