THE pews of the St Mark’s Church in New York were filled to capacity as family members and friends came out in their numbers to bid farewell to late veteran singer Hopeton Lewis on Saturday, September 13. The Jamaican-born singer was well known in New York’s Caribbean community, particularly in gospel circles, having made the change from recording secular music to inspirational songs 20 years ago. He was founder and president of the Hopeton Lewis Caribbean Gospel Music Awards and owner of Caribbean Gospel Jubilee (CGJ), an Internet radio station. For the past five years he hosted a music program three times per week on Grace Deliverance Radio, a community station. For the most part, the mood at the funeral service was a celebratory one. Gospel singer Odayne Rhoden did a medley of Lewis’ songs, which had mourners singing along. The late singer’s daughter, Ashley, also sang in tribute to her father. Among those who turned out for the service were gospel singer Joan Myers, Dobby Dobson, Bridgette Bloucher, Janet Lewis, and St Lucia gospel singer Miriam Drake. Lewis was interred at St Raymond Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. The 66-year-old died on September 4 at his home in New York. He was best known as a music pioneer, having recorded the 1966 hit Take it Easy, which reputedly heralded the rocksteady sound. The beat was slower than ska which it followed. His other hits included Sounds and Pressure, the 1970 Jamaican Festival Song winner Boom Shacka Laka, and Grooving Out On Life. Grenadianconnection.com extends sincere condolences to his family. Source: ja observer