Super Cat is not dead — Road manager

YASMINE PERU

STAR Writer

Veteran sound system man Jimmy Thomas, who acts as road manager for Super Cat, is dismissing rumours that the deejay is dead.

"Cat is not dead. I get hundreds of calls from morning. Everybody from Jamaica call me because I am the person that they call when they want dubplates from Cat, and so they have my number. Cat is in Atlanta ... but he's on his way to New York just now. I spoke to his manager this morning and Cat was right beside him. Everything is fine ... Cat is alive and well," Thomas, who is also known as 'Jimmy Foundation', told THE STAR.

"People just love to put up these foolishness. People just want a 'like'. And then it just blow out of proportion," he added.

Thomas, who shared that he was in Canada, said he would be meeting up with Super Cat in New York later this week.

"When I spoke to Cat's manager this morning, he told me, 'Jimmy .. Cat have nine life ... maybe six gone outta it already.'"

Super Cat, dancehall's Don Dadda, was one of the performers at this year's BET Awards ceremony which honoured hip-hop veteran Busta Rhymes. The June 25 ceremony took place on the entertainer's 60th birthday.

Super Cat, whose real name is William Anthony Maragh, enjoyed widespread popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s dancehall movement. Known as the 'Wild Apache', he is credited with paving the way for grittier dancehall.

Among his hit singles in the early 1990s were Don Dada, Ghetto Red Hot and Dem No Worry We with Heavy D. His albums include Si Boops Deh ! (1985); Sweets for My Sweet (1988); Cabin Stabbin (1991); The Struggle Continues (1995); and Take 2 (2003).