The funeral arrangements for the late dancehall artist Robert Lee Malcolm, also known as Gully Bop, have been finalized. The Thanksgiving service is scheduled to unfold at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica, on Sunday, January 14, starting at 11 a.m. Following the service, mourners will proceed to the family plot in King Weston, Lawrence Tavern, for the burial. The decision to bury Gully Bop in King Weston was influenced by his desire to be close to his beloved grandmother, whose remains are interred in the family plot.
Wayne ‘Joseph Current’ Thomas, the producer of Gully Bop, acknowledged Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, for her prompt assistance in securing the venue of choice. Minister Grange was noted for recognizing Gully Bop’s historical significance as the fastest-rising dancehall artist and a viral sensation.
Despite Gully Bop’s public struggle with kidney disease, it was revealed that he privately battled stomach cancer. His sister, Ann Marie Chamberlain, disclosed that he confided in close family members about the cancer diagnosis more than two years ago.
Thomas also highlighted the ongoing construction of a tomb for Gully Bop in King Weston by members of the Heart of Love community. Despite weather-related delays, they are determined to complete it by Saturday, ensuring a fitting send-off for the late artist. The dancehall figure, who passed away at the age of 59 on October 31 at the Kingston Public Hospital, succumbing to various illnesses, including kidney-related complications.
