Mighty Diamonds lead singer shot dead

LEGEND: Tabby Diamond

IT’S BEEN reported that ‘Tabby Diamond’ real name Donald Shaw, lead singer of the Mighty Diamonds has been shot dead in Jamaica.

Tabby, 67, one of three members of the legendary music group formed in 1969, is one of two people said to have been caught up in a drive-by shooting on McKinley Crescent in the St Andrew South Police Division.

Three other people were admitted with gunshot injuries.

Lloyd ‘Judge’ Ferguson and Fitzroy ‘Bunny’ Simpson are now the remaining members of the reggae trio who have won a plethora of international awards and were popular for tracks such as I Need A Roof, Right Time and Pass The Kouchie.

Sharing their grief via social media various artists and people who have worked with Tabby expressed their sorrow.

Recording artist Mikey General wrote: “EGZIO TESEHALENE. LORD HAVE MERCY!!!

Donald “Tabby” Shaw, Fitzroy “Bunny” Simpson and Lloyd “Judge” Ferguson of The Mighty Diamonds perform on stage

“One the great voices of reggae music, The legend Tabby Diamond was killed last night in a drive by shooting.

“He was one of the humblest artist and person l know. Recently l did some dubs for a sound with him.

“Soft spoken, kind, humility was his trademark. JAH blessed him a sweet unique voice. Reggae has lost a real giant. Condolences to the family and friends. Dis yah one hot!!! RIP GREAT ICON.”

Mr Vegas said: “Walk in peace great one! Jamaica is not a real place! They killed your flesh, not your spirit! Swallowfield the battlefield; Natty Dread will never run away! Hail King Tubby! You are indeed a Mighty Diamond!”

Writing on their Instagram page the Uppsala Reggae Festival based in Sweden wrote: “Rest In Eternal Peace Tabby Diamond. What a sad day in life and a huge loss for Reggae in general.

“One of the humblest and most pleasant people to be around with, one will ever meet gets shot to death on a senseless drive-by shooting, while sitting and minding his own on a roadway with friends. Our deepest condolences to his family.”

More accessible than many other roots outfits, the Diamonds boasted soulful, gorgeously pure harmonies and tight, catchy song writing, much of it from within the group itself.

Devout Rastafarians, the group balanced their spiritual and political messages with sweet romantic material, which gave them a more universal appeal than a lot of other groups emanating from the country at that time.

The group was bestowed the Order of Distinction in the Officer Class in 2021.

Comments Form

12 Comments

  1. | TOP CLASS SOUND

    SAD SAD AND SENSELESS ANOTHER GREAT ONE GONE

    Reply

  2. | Karl

    Rest in Perfect Peace, your music and melodies will live for generations.. Bless

    Reply

  3. | Israel Bhooshi

    So sad
    Ras – battle field

    They took you off

    Fly away home

    Reply

  4. | Nurse Pattye

    KING TUBBY Rest In Power

    Reply

  5. | Benjamin

    SLAVERY HAS A LOT TO ANSWER FOR THEY TOOK INI AWAY FROM AFRICA. THATS HOW NUFF A INI LOOSE INI CULTURE.
    build that CIVILTRUTHNATION= (civiliisation) THAT SHALL ASTONISH THE WORLD.
    No thrills,pills or sodomy.
    Only natrallity.male+female =alpha and omega day and night pure true opposites.
    .seek ye first JAH/GOD kingdom and all else shall be added.
    Ini need fi restore INI cultural heritage and family.judge not another B4 u read their book of truth=life.4 JAH IS THE ONLY FAIR JUDGE ALONG WITH HIS LAWS 4 RIGHTEOUS LIVING.
    F RIGHTEOUS FYAH 4 THE OPPRESOR SO IT CAN PURGE EARTH OF THEIR IMBALANCED AND EVIL WAYS
    AHIGHT.AND ALL HIS COHORTS. FOR WHATEVER REASON.
    JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

    Reply

  6. | Mike A the Cool One

    When the Right Time come
    Dem a go charge fe murder

    Reply

  7. | Leonard Forrester lennyduper@gma

    I cannot believe this very sad news! such a humble individual, a real icon when the right time comes it ah go bitter RIEP tabby, another sad day for reggae music, my condolences goes out to the family, and the rest of the band members! this hopeless killing needs to stop, really it does rastafari blessings to the whole of the reggae music world, such a hugh lost

    Reply

  8. | Miss Lee

    What a huge loss 🙁

    Reply

  9. | Deborah

    My heart is broken! I cannot believe this sad and aweful news! Mighty Diamonds were always and will always be one of my favorite groups! Grew up listening to their music from whence they started performing! What a world we live in! Rest in peace…I cry today!

    Reply

  10. | Sam Lodge

    I have attended many live concerts over the years including the legendary Michael Jackson, but my all time favourite concert was seeing the Mighty Diamonds RIP, Tabby

    Reply

  11. | Jeffrey Faulkner

    Sad senseless killing of a great Icon in Tabby Diamond .What is wrong with the Jamaican youths they have no respect for human life Tabby did not deserve to be taken out like this because of actions of his son . Reggae has lost a great voice when are the people of Jamaica gonna stop killing there own great singers what a shame Rest In Peace Tabby when the right time come they will be charge for murder .

    Reply

  12. | Fordey

    They made my 40th when I saw him in concert with the rest of the Diamonds in Amsterdam in 2003. RIP Tabby Diamond

    Reply

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