One year ago today (Friday Nov 23), Dominicans and residents of the neighbouring French islands received the news that legendary icon Jefferson “Jeff Jo” Joseph had passed on.
Many who knew him were left in a state of shock.
Jefferson Osbert Sylvester, who later came to be known only as ‘Jeff Jo’ in the entertainment business, was born in the community of St. Joseph and was the lead singer in the cadence lypso band Grammacks.
With Jeff Jo at the helm Grammacks was very instrumental in promoting cadence lypso. The band was founded in 1972 bringing together talented youth who attended the Dominica Grammar School and St. Mary’s Academy, the two leading boys high schools of the time.
The name of the band came from a combination of the names of the two schools. By November 1974 local newspapers of were reporting the band’s success in Guadeloupe and its first visits to France. Jeff Joseph led the band into popularity with one creative hit song after another.
Jeff’s support for Dominica and the World Creole Music Festival was celebrated along with Dominica’s 30th Anniversary of Independence in 2008 when he gave a rousing performance. On the 2nd and 3rd July 2010 he had his last grand concert performed at L’Atrium in Fort de France, Martinique. Just a month before he died he was on the stage of the World Creole Festival in Roseau for the last time.
His music lives on in the many albums produced and the videos of his performances will provide a younger generation with an idea of his dynamic personality and the creative contribution that he has made to Caribbean music.
As France-Antilles declared on the day after his death in Martinique on Wednesday, 23 November 20011, he was “the King of Kadans-lypso who made us dance for 40 years!”
Friends, family and fans of the legendary musician will get the opportunity to remember him at a memorial service in St. Joseph on Friday night.
Jeff Joe is more respected in Gwada and Madinina than in Dominica.he is still truely loved.big up to the french media that remembers him.they don’t wait for his birthdate or date of passing away to talk about him.come on dominicans:he is one of the most recognised of dominican musicians.
Blah blah blah… everybody and their nenen want to pretend they so into Jeff Joe, however where were all of you who are now running your fingers at the Memorial Service? I was there, along with a handful of his family members and a few freinds. The church was empty. Hush with the comments. NONE OF YOU turned up for the memorial mass les ban hypoquit ki zo yeh
Gone but not forgotten. Loved Grammacks to bits!
When Jeff was popular in the french island majority Dominicans didn’t knew about the gramacks,when I resided in Martinique after huricane David then I knew we had a popular band I was so proud,majority Dominicans had no idea Jeff was a Dominican Icon, I plays his music every day on youtube,special joue on bon partie dan la vie released 1977 ,R.I.P Jo
If you so love him and want to comment about who knew him as icon or not, you would like many of us have his music in your library not going to YOUTUBE for a free ride. Have a seat
Games again while he was alive anyone thought about remembering him or giving an award during independence,not never today we all want to pretend. Lucky you Henderson that you got something, but this is what Donminica is all about eny.
Where are the Jeff Joe admirers? They seemingly have forgotten him in one short year.
we miss you at RADIO CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL MARTINIQUE.thanx to Bel Radio we hear your music everyday without forgetting Ophelia Groovers and the others.Who is poised to take the reins?you were dynamic in promoting WCMF in Gwada and Madinina.one love to SEN JO.pliss foss a Mounia.
My heart still bleeds my friend,your love for people,the music and Dominica was Paramount.
Rest my friend,till the dawning of the new day ,we’ll see again.
RIP son of the soil. Gone but will and can NEVER be forgotten!:cry:
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
I see no need to have a memorial service for Jeff Joe because his belief was not in these things. The people doing this should allow him to rest in peace with what he believed in.
Come anonymos respect for the dead only goes that far.We the living decide how we want to remember the man.Memorial service for some,pouring wabyo on his grave for othere,and for some it will be singing his songs or smoking a joint.Now maybe u should tell us how u going to remember him.
get your facts straight who the hell are you he will appreciate.
one year already .how time flies.r.i.p