Most persons familiar with The Mighty Diamonds agree Fitzroy “Bunny Diamond” Simpson was the quiet presence who kept the group in check. Singer Irie, who met him during the 1990s, was taken by his humility.
On August 4, he released “Pass me The Vegetables” in tribute to Bunny Diamond who died in April at age 71. Singer Irie produced the song.
“My reason for doing a song like this is because of the friendship I had with Bunny Diamond, him was like a big brother to me. We use to hang out at Windsor Avenue, Anchor studio, (producer) Gussie Clarke place,” he recalled.
Bunny Diamond died just three days after Fitzroy “Tabby Diamond” Shaw, his colleague in The Mighty Diamonds, was murdered in Kingston at age 67.
He produced several singles by Singer Irie who was then known as Patrick Irie. They became acquainted at Anchor in 1994, when that recording studio had one of the hottest camps in reggae, with acts like Gregory Isaacs, Shabba Ranks, Home T and J C Lodge.
“Pass me The Vegetables” is a play on “Pass The Kutchie”, a monster hit for he Mighty Diamonds in 1982. Singer Irie, who lives in New York, was moved to write the song after hearing of Bunny Diamond’s death.
“He was a very kind and friendly brother. I meet up with Bunny Diamond in 1994 but I knew him before that and as a youth I use to listen to The Mighty Diamonds music a lot,” he said.
Lloyd “Judge Diamond” Ferguson is the sole surviving member of the group that formed in Kingston in 1969.
Written By Howard Campbell