Funeral for Tinga Stewart’s wife June 13

The thanksgiving service for Andrea Stewart, the wife of reggae singer Tinga Stewart, takes place on June 13, at the New Life Assembly Church of God on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew, starting at 10 a.m.

Stewart, 42, died on May 5 at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St Andrew after a brief illness. The harmony singer has been hailed for her dedication to Tinga after he was struck with a debilitating, mysterious illness in 2019. They were together for a decade. Tinga's daughter, Sandy, told THE STAR that her father is "hanging in there" and that his friends in the music industry have been rallying around him.

"My dad understands everything that is going on. He is now staying with my brother Finga, so that is good. The focus now is preparing for the funeral," Sandy said.

Tinga, the two-time Festival Song contest winner whose career has been on pause owing to his health issues, will turn 72 on July 3. Frankie Campbell, band leader for Fab 5, recalled that last year, Andrea hosted a birthday party for Tinga, which was well attended by members of the music fraternity.

"Andrea reached out to us and the musicians and singers showed up for him. Tinga sat down on a chair and people would go up to him and wish him happy birthday and sing a little song. But Tinga didn't really do much talking; we spoke over him," he shared.

In an interview last year, Andrea was quoted as saying: "When I stood and watched everyone how they were showing love to Tinga, I really felt good within myself to see that persons still love and care about this great legend." Campbell told THE STAR that he visited a bereaved Tinga the day after Andrea's passing.

"Tinga looked at me and seh 'Frankie, yuh know how mi feel.' That was it," he said.

Tinga first won the Festival Song contest in 1974 with Play de Music, and again in 1981 with Nuh Wey Nuh Betta Dan Yard. He wrote Hooray Festival with Willie Lindo for his brother Roman, which won the 1975 contest.

He participated in the Reggae Sunsplash world tour in 1989, touring Japan, and continued to record in the 1990s and 2000s, having now released over 200 singles. Among his hit songs are Cover Me, Take Time to Know with Ninja Man, Funny Feeling, Rainy Night in Georgia, and Inside my Heart.