Ding Dong and Voicemail’s Qraig remember Bogle 20 years after his death
Dancer Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy was killed 20 years ago. His passing left a void within the dancehall space.
Dancer turned deejay Ding Dong recalls meeting Bogle in 2002 at a weekly dance session.
“The first time I met him was at a party. When mi see him, mi a say, ‘a which man this?’ He was a big influence on me, a big influence on dancing and also a big influence on the culture,” Ding Dong shared in an interview with Observer Online on Sunday.
He added, “Dem man deh just dance in a different style, that’s why him dance moves continue to live on so long.”
Bogle, who was credited as the creator of several dances including Bogle, Willie Bounce, Jiggy and World Dance, was 40 years old when he was killed at a gas station on January 20, 2005.
“Bogle’s baddest features were his image. When yuh see Bogle, yaw go see him, him presence, him persona, just the way how him dress and carry himself,” Ding Dong recalled.
In 2004, the group Voicemail got its breakthrough hit with the #1 song Weh Di Time, a collaboration that also featured Delly Ranx and Bogle.
Voicemail member Qraig Jackson recalls the recording session at producer Danny Champagnie’s Champagne International studio.
“It was and still is my best recording experience in music. It was the most amazing experience in the studio with him. We recorded one song in the studio with Bogle which was Weh Di Time, and we also did two where his vocals were added,” said Jackson.
“Bogle is the face of joy and fun. He is one of the best souls you would ever meet,” Jackson added.
Voicemail recently released the songs Gwani Gwani (Frankie Music) and Jamrock featuring DFT (Khalfani).