Entertainment Minister, Olivia Grange has expressed sadness at the death of popular dancehall artiste, Merciless.
The DJ, whose real name is Leonard Bartley was reportedly found dead in a hotel room in St Andrew yesterday (July 19).
Merciless was 51 years old. Initial reports suggest that the DJ died from natural causes.
In a statement, Ms Grange said Merciless was a popular artiste in the dancehall space and had a number of hits to his credit.
She extended condolences to his relatives, friends and close associates in the music industry.
Meanwhile, the passing of Merciless has left the dancehall fraternity in a state of deep shock, with many paying heartfelt tributes to the dancehall veteran via social media.
Merciless first found success performing with sound systems across Jamaica. He made his recording début in 1994 with “Lend Out Mi Mercy“, which was a hit in Jamaica and elsewhere, and a string of further hits followed.
He is also known by the nickname “Warhead”, and engaged in several high-profile on-stage ‘battles’ in the late 1990s and 2000s with fellow deejays Beenie Man, Ninjaman, and Bounty Killer.
