The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, says it world stopped on Thursday (October 12) on learning of the passing of beloved musician and educator Ibo Cooper.

In a statement, the Arthur Wint Drive tertiary institution noted that Kingsley Michael “Ibo” Cooper lived a life of service.

“Ibo acknowledged the impact he made on the world as a musician, vocalist, songwriter, band leader but perhaps for him, a man born in a family of teachers, teaching was a calling. He joined the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts as a part time teacher and started the popular music ensemble teaching students how to play as a band. He later came aboard as a full-time head of the Caribbean, Latin America, and Jazz Department, now Popular Music Studies. His students were his children and EDNA was his family,” the college noted.

The college will be opening a book of condolences as of Tuesday, October 17, for persons wishing to pay tribute to the late master musician, educator and reggae ambassador.

Ibo was committed to his life as an education, a serious teacher who was faithful to his students and his duties. We admired his sense of duty, his commitment to nationhood and his humble, easy-going nature that made him a household name at the college.

Past prinicipal Burchell Duhaney lauded Cooper’s service to the college, stating, “He has served the college for a long time in a myriad of ways, giving of his musical talent and inspiring many students across the college.”

“We were privileged to have honoured him at our graduation ceremony in 2022 and only a week ago decided to celebrate him in our upcoming graduation in November. Ibo has led the musical direction for graduation for over two decades, giving our students ‘an alleluia of chorus’ to leave with. Ibo was as wise as he was shrewd. He was a visionary and his last conversation with current principal, Dorrett Campbell, he shared his concerns about succession demonstrated his thoughtfulness,” the college statement mused further.

“We will miss him. We will miss his presence, his influence, his unmatchable contribution, especially to the School of Music, but we will never forget him. We hold each other up in his honour because Ibo never failed in his duties. We can only do our part in continuing the rich legacy he built through our own service to enriching the cultural and creative industries in the Caribbean through the highest quality education in the arts,” it read.