“Can you call me back? I would love to talk to you, I just can’t right now,” Crystal Campbell shared as she took a deep breath. “This is a really hard time. He’s really gone.”

Campbell, who had been in charge of taking care of the late reggae singer Feluke, said she was still trying to come to grips with his passing. She could only confirm that Feluke, who had been diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in 2014, had passed away on Saturday at a health facility in Mexico, where he had travelled for another set of treatments after falling ill last November. Campbell, who had travelled with Feluke to Mexico, told The Gleaner that while she would love to speak on the person Feluke was, and give Jamaicans a deeper look into his character, she just could not find the words and needed time.

The pain in her voice was agonising. Still, she mustered up the strength to give thanks to those who have been reaching out to send their condolences. She said since Feluke’s passing, she has received a plethora of calls and text messages from persons within the entertainment industry expressing sadness at his death, while encouraging her to stay strong. “The music fraternity has really been reaching out and so has his church family at St Theresa Catholic Church. Their support in this time really means a lot,” she said.

Since news of his passing spread over the weekend, a number of persons from the music fraternity took to social media to pay tribute to a man they described as one of the strongest individuals they have ever come across. Among those to pay their respects were songbird Tessanne Chin, her sister Tami Chin, reggae artistes Bugle, Tarrus Riley and Jesse Royal, as well as media personality Miss Kitty. They all expressed sadness at the singer’s passing, but said he made such an impact on them that his memory will live on forever.

In a statement sent to The Gleaner, Executive Director of the Ashe performing arts group, Conroy Wilson, said the group was “blessed” to be a part of the team that helped to nurture and support’ Feluke’s life journey even as they “benefited” from his great musicianship and giving spirit. Feluke was an Ashe alumni. “The Ashe family mourns the passing of our alumnus, Denver Smith. We met Denver straight out of Alpha Boys’ Home and have been blessed to have been a part of the team that helped to nurture and support his life journey, even as we benefited from his great musicianship and giving spirit,” Wilson’s statement read. “Denver joined the Ashe Academy and quickly developed skills that guaranteed him a place in the Ashe Ensemble. As an Ensemble member, he toured the world with the company as a supporting drummer, then later becoming our lead drummer and percussionist before starting his solo career.”

“Denver is a good example of hard work and living life to the fullest, always striving for success. While we mourn the passing of Denver, we stand by the words of our artistic director Michael Holgate, ‘Denver will be missed but is never missing!’ Live on Denver,” Wilson’s statement continued.

The last time The Gleaner spoke to Feluke back in July, the singer gave details of the painful journey he had been on for the past six years. At the time, he said he was financially and emotionally exhausted. “ I’m back in my bed. I can’t walk for very long. Some days I literally fight to get up out of the bed to go outside and get some sunlight. Other days I’m so weak, I can’t even talk. The reality is, I never ever thought I was past the worst because I’m educated about this whole cancer thing, but it’s just financially and emotionally exhausting,” he said, pointing out that he was most hurt by the fact that his condition was taking a toll on those he loved. “What hurts me the most is seeing other people hurting because I’m hurting. They are concerned about me and so willing to help in any way they can, and sometimes I just sit and cry when I see how much they have to do and how dedicated they are. I love helping myself, and when I am sick, I can’t do that. People have to be assisting me, and it pains me to see them doing so much to take care of me. It makes me feel powerless, but I am grateful that I have people around me, supporting me in this fight and carrying the burden with me.”

A GoFundMe page was set up in Feluke’s name a few months ago as he sought financial assistance to once again journey to Mexico for treatment. The late singer left the island for Mexico last month.