Last November marked 50 years since Fab 5 started its musical journey, but like many others in the music and entertainment industry, they are feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The numeral five is playing out its significance in the life of legendary reggae band Fab 5 this year, and, as some love to say, ‘numbers don’t lie’. Last November marked 50 years since the Frankie Campbell-led aggregation started its musical journey and plans were in place to celebrate this fabulous half-century. Then COVID-19 came, and plunged the music industry globally into economic despair, so much so that in its 50th year, Fab 5 earned a meagre five per cent of what they had been booked for in 2020. And like many others, Campbell, who is also the chairman of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates, is asking how can persons in the music industry survive.
When it rains, it pours straight into the deteriorating hazard-prone building he calls home.
Milton Crump, who is hard of hearing and visually impaired, has been living in this dilapidated building for years. With age, the landlord has waived his rent.
The 85-year-old is the last man standing from his family bloodline of four children but has been graced with the assistance of a family friend,
The good Samaritan, Joy, visited him three years ago out of curiosity from seeing him walking on the street on her daily commute. Her heart was broken by what she saw.
“It wasn’t pleasant because him can’t see that much. The water him use a cook the food, it nuh clean,” Joy said.