Artiste extraordinaire Cocoa Tea’s music rocked the Luxurious Ballroom in Fort Lauderdale on March 29, where many of his colleagues gathered to salute his legacy.

The singer died from cancer at age 65 on March 11 in that South Florida city.

One of dancehall music’s prolific hit makers, Cocoa Tea lost a three-year fight with a terminal disease which effectively ended his career.

Last Saturday’s event, promoted by King Bridge Music, was attended by Capleton, Freddie McGregor, Beenie Man, D’Angel, Twiggi, Spanner Banner, Spragga Benz, Papa San, Richie Stephens, Everton Blender, Hopeton Lindo, Ed Robinson, Joanna Marie, Nigy Boy, Chris Chin, and Howard Chung of VP Records.

McGregor, who performed from a wheelchair, hailed Cocoa Tea.

“He was my brother, a great singer and a wonderful soul. Miss you, T,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Lindo, another of Cocoa Tea’s long-time friends, hailed his humility.

“The massive turnout shows just how much Cocoa Tea is loved and respected. It was a packed place both inside and outside,” he said.

Born Calvin Scott, Cocoa Tea was from Rocky Point, a fishing village in Clarendon. While he started his recording career as a teenager in the early 1970s, it was not until a decade later that he made his chart debut with Rocking Dolly, produced by Henry “Junjo” Lawes.

He had a number of hit singles in the late 1980s up to the mid-1990s including Young Lover, Lost my Sonia, Lonesome Side, and Holy Mount Zion.

The thanksgiving service for Calvin “Cocoa Tea” Scott takes place on April 6 at The Verandah, Clarendon Park.

— Howard Campbell