Sean Paul, Michelle Bent remember ‘forever authentic’ Rupert Bent

When Rupert Bent III performed with Third World Band at Fireworks on the Waterfront in 2023, his presence on stage evoked some amount of curiosity. He appeared to have tubes running from his nostrils, a clear indication that all was not well with the talented guitarist, songwriter, music producer and engineer, who also distinguished himself as the musical director for Sean Paul’s band.

Rupert Bent III, 57, passed away on January 4 after a relatively short battle with lung disease.

His widow, Michelle, told The Sunday Gleaner that Rupert was “a true one of one” and pointed out that “how he handled the health challenges was evident when you would see him performing on stage with oxygen assistance”.

“Rupert was forever authentic, always striving for excellence in all he did ... musician, husband, sailor, son, brother, friend ... all at a master level. Rupert Bent’s influence will live on for generations,” Michelle said.

She shared how Rupert Bent III would want to be remembered.

“Rupert would want to be remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing and loving him

as one who challenged and supported them to their full potential. [He] was always happy to share his knowledge and time with those who asked and who were committed to the discipline. He would want to be remembered as one who always had time, an ear, a shoulder and a safe place to stay for those friends in their time of need. He was too humble to want to be recognised for his musical talent, but those that know ...well, they know. He was proud of his sailing skills, and in particular, his epic crossing of the Atlantic in 2018,” Michelle said.

Multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed dancehall artiste, Sean Paul, has first-hand experience of the larger-than-life talent that was Rupert Bent III and he spoke with The Sunday Gleaner about the impact that Bent had on his career.

They met through Cat Coore of Third World, who invited Sean to the studio to do some work after listening to a demo tape. After doing a song at Jack Scorpio’s studio, the next stop was Rupert Bent’s studio, where Sean would officially start another phase of his musical journey and experience what he termed “another pinnacle of artistry” for which he is”forever grateful and indebted to Rupert”.

Bent’s studio was the place where a young Sean Paul said he “first started to record some real demos with a producer who was producing music behind it”.

“The impact that Rupert has had on my career is invaluable,” Sean Paul told said, his voice seeped with gratitude.

“He is someone who always tek time when him recognise the talent in someone. And him never really pressured me into signing a document locking down the career in certain way. He just wanted to develop the talent. And I, in turn, have become that same way with other artistes. I don’t really sign them to my label ... mi just work wid dem and try to improve what they have to offer. And so I salute Rupert for that. He became my band leader after I broke internationally and we toured the world fi bout 10 year ... over 20-something African countries, every continent we touch and wave the flag,” he recalled

He added, “When one of your mentors is somebody who’s so musically inclined, you can only go up from there. He taught me to play chords on a guitar, we produced a song together called Time Rolls on which was one of my most potent, conscious songs ever. We used to do that song on stage and I used to play it and sing it. For ‘bout four to five years out of my career we did that ... and that was just a new pinnacle of artistry for me. I don’t really do it on stage any more but I play guitar now for my own enjoyment.”

He shared that the last time he saw Bent was in the airport and he “was going through certain medical situation, so, we bless him up and kept it moving”.

Bent would eventually return to touring with Third World, but he and Sean would “buck up again on many tours” in places such as Connecticut, Australia and across Europe and it was always a pleasure for them to see each other.

“Big up to Third World and Cat Coore ... they have lost a great one, and the whole industry ... we have lost a great one. His passing has impacted me in a very emotional way, but not just me ... just the whole culture, the whole industry. Real musicians and engineers and producers ... the whole of them know Rupert and know what a talent we have lost. RIP to Rupert Bent,” Sean Paul said.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com