Composer of ‘Jamming in D Party’ dies in Kitchener at 88

Darnley Ashby

Trinidad-born songwriter Darnley Ashby died in a Kitchener, Ontario hospital on April 8 last after suffering a stroke.He was 88.

Ashby who composed more than  a hundred songs and was known in the music business as Secko,  was diagnosed with dementia several years ago, his wife, Betty, told The Caribbean Camera.

Ashby wrote and arranged calypsoes for Mississauga-based Lady Pearl (Sheila Brereton-Robinson) for many years and she won the calypso monarch titles in Toronto and Miami with one of his compositions, Mother of all humanity.

Lady Pearl described Ashby as ” a cool person to work with.”

One of his most popular soca compositions was Jamming in D Party which was sung by the Trinidad vocalist, Melanie Hudson.

Ashby worked for several years as an assembler with a n aircraft manufacturing company in Malton, Ontario.

He was the father of Trevor, Sipho, Erica, Renrnck,Pernell, Denise (who died in  1984), Marjorie and Gloria and the grandfather of 22.

A memorial chapel service for the late Darnley Ashby will  be live-streamed [link to be provided closer to the date] on Saturday, May 2,  starting at 11:00 a.m.

A ” Celebration of the life of Darnley Ashby” will b be held at a date to be fixed.