JAMAICA | Former PM P.J. Patterson says "Ibo" Cooper's Legacy will Inspire Generations

Tribute to Michael Ibo Cooper from the Most Hon P. J. Patterson

Jamaica’s entertainment landscape has lost one of its most venerable stalwarts with the passing of Kingsley Michael Moncrieffe "Ibo" Cooper who departed this life on Thursday October 12, after a valiant battle with cancer.

At the time when the earthly melody beckoned him, Ibo was serving as the head of the Caribbean, Latin America, and Jazz Department, now known as Popular Music Studies, at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

His association with this revered institution began in the late 1990s, marking a chapter of imparting musical wisdom to the budding artists.

A maestro of the keyboard, a thoughtful songwriter, and a vocalist with a touch of Jamaican grace, Ibo's music journey flourished with the Inner Circle band. His creative spirit found a new horizon when he co-founded Third World alongside the talented Steven "Cat" Coore in 1973.

Their collaboration was more than a band; it was a narrative of Jamaican culture and expression.

After 25 years of gracing stages worldwide, Ibo transitioned into a new role in the late 1990s, that of a mentor. As a devoted teacher at the Edna Manley College, his approach wasn’t merely pedagogical, but a hand-holding of young musicians towards finding their rhythm in the vast ocean of music.

His last years were a soothing note of guidance and mentorship, which he delivered with the poise of an international maestro, yet with the warmth of a true Jamaican soul.

Ibo's musical narrative commenced at Jamaica College where his affinity with piano and organ earned him admiration. His musical prowess soon earned him the title “Mr. Showbiz”.

Yet, it was his association with Third World that etched his name as a significant contributor to Jamaica’s rich musical heritage.

He was not just a musician, but an envoy of Jamaican reggae to the world. His music was an elegant tapestry of Jamaica’s cultural narrative that reached hearts globally, aiding in carving a distinguished place for reggae on the world stage.

Over the years, during  my Prime Ministerial tenure and retirement, we indulged frequently in conversations aimed to realise his dream: the building of an arts and entertainment complex on lands adjacent to the stadium that would include a space for concerts.He had an outline design ready to proceed.

When eventually it is constructed,as rhe need is compelling, I hope his efforts will not be forgotten as we perpetuate his sterling contribution.

Amidst personal sorrow, with the passing of his loving wife Althea Joy Atkinson Cooper and his son, music producer and disc jock Arif Cooper earlier this year, Ibo’s fortitude remained unshaken, his commitment to music and teaching undeterred.

As we bid adieu to Ibo Cooper, a solemn yet proud note of gratitude resonates across the Jamaican musical community and beyond. His passing is a somber pause in our collective melody, yet his legacy is a dignified continuum that will inspire generations.

Our heartfelt condolences extend to his family. May the melancholy of this loss gradually transcend into a harmonious remembrance of a life well-lived, of a musician extraordinary, of a true son of Jamaican soil.

The soothing cadence of Ibo’s life and music will forever echo through the hills and hearts of Jamaica, an enduring tribute to a remarkable soul in our musical anthology.

P.J. Patterson
Former Prime Minister