On Tuesday night in Kingston, the DANCEHALL deejay Merciless was discovered dead in a guest home on Walker’s Avenue, just off Beechwood Avenue. He had made a lone check-in.
The 51-year-old performer was last seen Tuesday night around midnight, according to witnesses. From Clarendon, Merciless was performing at several Corporate Area studios.
His close buddy and driver, Kevin Thomas, claimed that when the deejay didn’t answer his calls, he realized something wasn’t right.
“Di deejay ah mi friend. Him ah everything to mi. Mi weak. Ah Sunday night ah di last mi see him. Di man give mi $1,500 an’ seh, ‘Kevin, si yuh lunch money yah… Come link mi likkle more.’ Him seh when him finish do some work ah di studio [on Monday] him ah go come link mi. Mi deh ah work dis morning an’ mi call di man an’ mi nuh see him call mi back… So mi lef work four o’clock an’ when mi come yah suh mi si him car yah so. So di man dem seh ah from morning wi si di deejay car yah so, an’ wi nuh see him come out. Mi weak now… Suh mi call Carlos an’ seh, ‘Yuh si di deejay?’ an’ him seh, ‘Yuh know ah two day mi nuh hear di man… Mi call di security an’ wi shub off di door an’ si the man pon di ground pon him face. Ah we see di man dead,” a distraught Thomas told Advertafrica.net.
The death of Merciless grieved Olivia “Babsy” Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment, and sport.
“Losing yet another member of our musical community is very upsetting. Dancehall performer Merciless was well-liked and had a number of singles to his name. I send my deepest condolences to his family, his friends, his colleagues, and the music community “Grange stated in a release
The artiste was discovered deceased at a motel off Beechwood Avenue, according to the corporate communications unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The police were rushed to the scene. It is being investigated as a sudden death with no suspicion of foul play.
Leonard Bartley, sometimes known as Merciless, was born in Chapleton, Clarendon. In 1994, he released Lend Out Mi Mercy, his debut album. Along with Mama Cooking and Gal Dem Gizzada, he also gained new followers with Mavis and Mr. Whodini.
He was well known for having multiple fights. The most notable was in a lyrical duel at Sting 2000 at Jamworld Entertainment Complex in St. Catherine with Ninjaman, Bounty Killer, and Beenie Man.
