General B mourns passing of his father

Veteran dancehall artiste General B is mourning the passing of his father Gladstone Parkes, who he described as an excellent dad who loved music and had a keen interest in his career.

General B used the moment to reflect on the unpredictability of life and death.

"Just last week mi a celebrate mi 51st birthday, and this week mi a mourn mi father at him funeral," the Bad Inna New Clothes deejay remarked. Parkes, 75, and died in New Jersey.

He said his fondest memory of his father also served as a life lesson, but admitted that he did not immediately understand the wisdom he imparted until later on in life.

"Him give me a Rolex and the car and say people going to have manners to me. As a likkle youth, mi no know nothing 'bout Presidential Rolex and when a man put that pon yuh hand and say people a go have manners to you, mi never know weh that mean. Is not until mi a go through airport and mi see the white man dem a hold on pon me hand and a say 'Nice watch, man', a that time mi realise weh it mean. And me a say, OK, a dem thing yah the boss did a talk 'bout in this materialistic world, when people judge you by your appearance and value you," General B shared.

"The man buy me car and mi couldn't even drive, and a round a the studio him bring it to, enuh," General B continued. The car was a Honda Accord, but he said he could not remember the year he received it.

General B revealed that his father was a household name in music, as he was a stage show promoter in the US and booked top acts like Puff Daddy and Beres Hammond, among many others, during his active years. He said his father's passing was unexpected because they spoke recently and his dad seemed fine.

"The only thing him a tell me is that him a feel a pain inna him foot, and mi a tell him say mi always see him a exercise, and mi tell him not to stop exercise," he said. General B said three days after that conversation, he received a call about his father's death.