Alkaline Mourns Death of his Father

Lindsay JermaineJuly 19, 2023

The father of prominent dancehall artiste Alkaline has died. Alkaline, whose birth name is Earlan Bartley, has not publicly addressed the loss, remaining silent on social media.

The artiste’s father, Earl Bartley, affectionately known as ‘Rooster,’ reportedly passed away last week.

Confirmation of Rooster’s passing came from Alkaline’s sister and manager, Kereena, who revealed the tragic news. With a heavy heart, she shared, “He has passed. I am at a loss for words in a situation like this.”

The private memorial service, known as the nine-night, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 19, at an undisclosed location in the Corporate Area.

When questioned about how her brother was coping with the loss, Kerry said it was difficult to speak on his behalf during this challenging time. “I can only speak for myself. That’s the reality of it,” she said.

The family has requested privacy since news of their father’s death emerged. They hope the public will respect their wishes during this grieving process.

While Kerry did not disclose the details of the illness, she assured them their father’s passing was peaceful and loved ones surrounded him.

According to the Gleaner, they contacted the family earlier this month after learning about Rooster’s illness. A representative stated then that he was unhealthy.

Residents of the upper St Andrew community, where Rooster lived, were shocked to hear of his passing. One resident who saw him a few weeks ago expressed surprise, saying he looked fine.

The resident continued by saying he was not a bother to anyone around. You couldn’t tell his son was a superstar, despite wearing his Vendetta shirt a few times. He also revealed that they had taken him on tour recently.

A casual recording of Alkaline and his father driving in a Benz SUV on a Jamaican highway surfaced online a few years ago. The amateur clip is still accessible today.

Alkaline referenced his father in at least two songs, including the diss track “Death Announcement”.

Additionally, the artist pays tribute to his mother, Charmaine, in several of his songs.