Tabby Diamond Didn’t Think His Life Was In Any Danger, Says ‘Judge’
Lloyd ‘Judge’ Ferguson, the only living member of the Mighty Diamonds, said the murder of lead singer Tabby Diamond in March was a total shock.
Speaking with Stephen Cooper for Reggae Vibes, Judge revealed that the legendary vocalist didn’t suspect his life was in danger.
“Tabby didn’t think he was in any danger, because all Tabby [was] about is music. And Tabby [was] not a violent person—Tabby wasn’t mixed up in anything,” he said.
“He never spoke about worrying about anything. It happened—I spoke to him the day of his death, you know?” Judge reasoned.
Tabby, whose real name is Donald Shaw, was one of two men killed in a drive-by shooting on McKinley Drive in St. Andrew on March 29. He was 67. According to Loop Jamaica, the police theorized that Tabby’s killing was a likely reprisal, as the singer’s son had been held by the police in relation to a murder.
When asked whether Tabby would not have been harmed if he lived in a different part of town, Judge responded: “Well even if it didn’t happen then, it would happen later because according to what the government says, you know, or, the police say—the police say [Tabby] got killed because of his son.”
Fitzroy ‘Bunny’ Simpson died only a few days later after battling illness.
Judge said that the group was on the cusp of an African tour that they discussed only a few hours before Tabby was killed.
“The day of his death he called me and he was preparing—or the group was preparing to do an African tour. So he called me and talked about passport issues. That was in the day, about 1 o’clock in the day, and then I got the news now in the night, about 9:30—that he was dead,” Judge added.
In Judge’s opinion, members of the police force have been lagging in bringing justice to those left to mourn.
“Well, I am not really in touch with the police down here now. Because my time on the force was not really—most of my people, they are not on the force now. There are different people [on the force now]. But what really happened is that—I don’t understand. Because we have not heard anything about anybody being arrested. Or anything. So I don’t think the investigation has been going on [effectively],” he said further arguing that light-lipped citizens who might have useful information need to come forward.
In the meantime, the group was in the process of completing a 12-track album. However, only five songs came to fruition. Judge is toying with the idea of releasing the incomplete album to share a final piece of Tabby with their fans.
“Well we are deciding now how we’re going to go about completing it. Because, well, Tabby’s not really there anymore, so there’s gonna be a difference in sound. Where the lead is concerned. So, we are planning how we’re gonna go about completing the album. Or, if we don’t complete the album, then we might just use those five tracks and [release it] as some “extended play.” And name it “The Last Recordings from Tabby Diamond.”
Related: Mighty Diamonds: 4 Essential Songs
Originally, they called themselves The Limelight. That name was shorted-lived as one of the group member’s mothers assigned them the moniker The Diamonds, which later morphed into The Mighty Diamonds.
The group’s breakthrough came in 1973 with the release of their hit, Shame and Pride. They kept the momentum, working assiduously with the Kington-based Channel One label. From that association came hits such as Country Girl and Hey Girl.
Virgin Records signed the Mighty Diamonds and the album, Right Time, was released in 1976, becoming an international success. Their follow-up album, Deeper Roots, released in 1979 was their next big success.
Three years later — 1982 — celebrated Jamaican music producer Gussie Clarke tasked the group with completing an album entitled Changes, which featured the monster hit Pass the Kutchie on the Full Up riddim. It spawned a series of interpretations, amongst them, Pass the Dutchie, by then London newcomers Musical Youths.
In 2021, the group was honored in the National Honours and Awards on the occasion of Jamaica’s 59th independence celebrations.