20 PART SERIES, 20 Days of Silk, starting November 14 : Next month marks 20 years since the death of roots singer Garnet Silk, who died there on December 9, 1994: On the Silk Road as Family remembers late reggae singer....Silk had numerous hit songs such as Zion in a Vision, Mama Africa, It's Growing, Nothing Can Divide Us and much more...

Next month marks 20 years since the death of roots singer Garnet Silk. Today, the Observer reflects on the incident that claimed the lives of himself and his mother. It leads into a 20-part series, 20 Days of Silk, starting November 14.

Garnet Silk

HATFIELD Ward Park in Manchester is like many rural districts in Jamaica -- several corner shops, construction sites and lush vegetation.

Manchester is known for producing some of reggae's finest acts. Among them are Tony Rebel, General Degree, Ce'cile, Ernie Ranglin and Luciano.

But Hatfield Ward Park is best known as the birthplace for one of reggae music's brightest stars whose light was extinguished far too early.

It produced a singer called Garnet Silk, who died there on December 9, 1994, along with his mother Etiga Gray. The fiery incident happened at 4:00 am, robbing contemporary reggae of its most promising figure who had enjoyed a remarkable rise in just two years.

Garnet Silk family members

The Rastafari singer was part of a roots revival that wrested the Jamaican dancehall from artistes spewing suggestive and crime-driven lyrics, inspiring a wave of Afro-consciousness last seen in the 1970s.

Recording for a number of producers, Silk had numerous hit songs such as Zion in a Vision, Mama Africa, It's Growing, Nothing Can Divide Us, Lion Heart, Fill Us Up With Your Mercy and Love is the Answer.

Paul Cassanova, brother of Garnet Silk
and survivor of the deadly fire. Paul
Casssnova shows his burned hands

Just three nights before his death, Silk performed at the Mirage nightclub in upper St Andrew. From all reports, he did an outstanding set.

News of his death shocked Jamaicans and the international reggae community. His songs were played on radio stations throughout the world.

Almost 20 years later, the sleepy community where the tragic incident took place still mourns. On Wednesday when Splash visited, Silk's nephews Joseph Bent and Kedar Palmer, along with a few friends, applied their mechanic skills to a car in the yard. more