Several members of the entertainment fraternity showed up at Boulevard Baptist Church in Kingston in early August to bid farewell to their colleague, reggae/rocksteady singer Pat Kelly.

Kelly’s niece Jhannel Tomlinson delivered the eulogy, recalling her uncle’s standout traits as a man of optimism and great perseverance.

With The Techniques he sang lead on hit songs like I Wish it Would Rain and Love Is Not A Gamble.

Kelly went solo again in 1968 with the song Little Blue Boy. With The Techniques out of the picture, The Uniques handled the backing vocals on a series of tracks that included remakes of Daddy’s Home, I’m in the Mood for Love, and You Are Not Mine.

During the 1970s Kelly had several hit songs including Talk About Love and Night And Day. In the 1990s he was part of a revived Techniques alongside former members Johnny Johnson and Lloyd Parks, who helped spark a rocksteady renaissance.

Pat Kelly (given name Horatious Adolphus Kelly) died of kidney complications on July 16. He would have turned 75 on August 6.

Kelly is survived by his wife Ingrid and his five children — Pamella, Sheryl, Padeane, Terriann, and Sean.

He was interred at Dovecot Memorial Park and Crematory in St Catherine.