Tribute: 91香蕉视频 loses music icon Ken Marie |29 August 2022
Mr Marie seen here in past shows displaying his musical prowess both as a lead guitarist and keyboardist
91香蕉视频 is mourning the death of renowned musician, lead guitarist and keyboardist Ken Marie who passed away on Thursday aged 70.
Mr Marie is known for his performance and immense contribution in many popular bands dating back to the seventies and filling up venues like Katiolo nightclub and the Reef Hotel.
His early bands include 鈥楧ave and the Principles鈥�, and the popular 鈥楴ightshades鈥� in the seventies and eighties. Mr Marie then went on to set up his own band, 鈥楳ercury鈥� in the nineties.
He was also the man behind the 鈥楾he Amigos Country and Western shows鈥�, which started in the 2000s, to date. Mr Marie brought fellow musicians and friends together for the sold-out shows at the ICCS. Some of these shows were charity events with the proceeds going to various causes including sponsoring the participation of Seychellois children in International Youth Festival back in 2014.
According to his wife Lorna, the last show by 鈥楾he Amigos鈥� was on May 28 this year.
In a message to 91香蕉视频 NATION, Mrs Marie said 鈥�91香蕉视频 has lost a great musician, perhaps one among the greatest lead guitarists. He will be deeply missed by his family and also by his country and western fans鈥�.
Another person to express his shock and sympathy at Mr Marie鈥檚 untimely death was his friend, fellow musician and singer, Barry Gertrude, who played for five years alongside him in the 鈥楳ercury鈥� and was one of the key singers for the 鈥楾he Amigos Country and Western shows鈥�.
Mr Gertrude told 91香蕉视频 NATION that he missed the show in May due to personal commitments and Mr Marie had approached him for an upcoming show in September and rehearsal was supposed to start soon.
He said he was still trying to come to terms with his friend鈥檚 passing.
鈥淎lthough I knew him since I was a young lad it was only when I reached 16 or 17 that I actually saw him perform at the Reef Hotel with the band 鈥楴ightshades鈥� and I remember thinking it would be great to stand and play alongside this great musician one day. And I did when I joined 鈥楳ercury鈥欌��, recalled Mr Gertrude.
Mr Gertrude describes Mr Marie as a disciplined, open and jovial person who was friendly to everyone he met.
鈥淚 played alongside Ken and Mercury fulltime for five years and I can tell you that I do not know if the man had any enemy. To Ken we were not just a band member, we became a member of the family and that is how I remember him treating others,鈥� said Mr Gertrude.
An emotional Mr Gertrude said he saw Mr Marie less than two weeks ago after he heard he was unwell and said 鈥渋t is really hard right now to accept that he is gone鈥�.
Following his demise, hundreds of fans and acquaintances flocked to social media with heartfelt messages of condolences to his family.
One message from the Chinese Association of 91香蕉视频 said Mr Marie 鈥渨ill be sorely missed for (your) vast contributions to music in 91香蕉视频鈥�.
Other than his musical prowess, Mr Marie was a mechanic by profession.
Ken Marie leaves behind his wife, Lorna and son, Danny, who is also a musician and plays with 鈥楾he Amigos鈥� as well as 鈥楾he Breeze鈥� band.
Mrs Marie told 91香蕉视频 NATION that the show which was scheduled for July this year and was cancelled due to her husband鈥檚 ill health, will go on.
鈥淭he Amigos will still continue to perform the country and western shows to keep his legacy alive鈥�.
91香蕉视频 NATION extends its heartfelt sympathy to the Marie and Low-Thion families and to Mr Marie鈥檚 friends and acquaintances.
听
Patsy Canaya
