Entertainment Community Unites for Kendoyll Simpson

For more than two decades, Kendoyll Simpson, known to many as “KSBEATS,” helped shape the sound of Belizean music. From producing hit songs to mentoring the next generation of artists, his influence extended far beyond the recording studio.

Since his passing after a two-year battle with cancer, tributes have been pouring in from across the country. As preparations continue for his memorial service in Belize, a benefit concert is currently taking place at the Bliss Center as his family, friends and fellow musicians work together to get his body home and buried.

 

Tiffany Simpson, Sister

“The turnout is really great. We have all the artists that Kendoyll, he helped them launch their careers, so they’re here to support the event. We’re really excited about the Legacy Concert, the coming together and everybody who is supporting our family to bring him back home. So I’d like to make a donation appeal. We have several ways you can donate. You can come down to the concert and you can donate by cash, and for every fifty dollars you spend on donations, you get a ticket to enter our raffle. Some of his acquaintances are doing another memorial for him. So more artists will be performing then. The ones that didn’t perform, because we have a tight show, right? And then we should be burying him no later than August twelfth.”

 

Wilson Grinage, Host, Legacy Concert

“This benefit concert, I’m surprised by the lineup as well, because you have artists from way back in the day. Artists like Instruments of Love. You have people working on the production side of it like Melonie Gillett. When last have you heard about Melonie Gillett? Then you have new artists like Six Frass and J Money and Young Dan and you have seasonal artists like Ernestine about to take the stage later on. And T.R. Shyne, then of course you have the Center Stage band, who is legendary behind Kendoyll or the baby, I should say, of Kendoyll, right? In all, I would say that this is a great historic and momentous event. Not just for the fact that we’re here to celebrate his life. It just shows you the outreach and the power and how far his tentacles reach when it comes to inspiring new, present, and seasonal artists.”

 

Over thirty Belizean artists and bands are performing at the Kendoyll Simpson Legacy Benefit today. Those who wish to make a donation can contact his sister Tiffany Simpson.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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