KINGSTON, Jamaica – Whylie Lopez, a Jamaican pianist of the 1940s and ’50s, died in the Cayman Islands on Sunday and will be buried there today. He was 96 years old and had been living in Cayman for the last seven years.
According to one of his four children, Whylie ‘Chunky’ Lopez Jr, Lopez Sr had the gift of playing the piano by ear. “He never read a note in his life,” the younger Lopez joked.
He was also an accomplished footballer in his time. Lopez played on the Manning Cup team at Jamaica College and was a member of Jamaica’s senior team which beat the English team, Corinthians. He also represented Kingston Club.
He spent most of his adult life working as a salesman at the liquor distributing company, J. Wray and Nephew.
“All the people in the bars and clubs knew him. His life was music, football and selling rum,” Lopez Jr said.
Elite party player
Jamaican musician Sonny Bradshaw noted that Lopez and his band was known for playing at elite parties.
“He played at all the nice functions and he played that popular dance music. It was very melodic,” recalled Bradshaw.
Lopez Jr said his father’s band was regarded as the best in the island before Byron Lee and the Dragonaires and, as such, played for the queen and the governor general.
Similar to the start of Lee’s band, the Whylie Lopez Band began at school – Jamaica College. It was then known as Whylie Lopez and the Melody Makers.
The band was together for more than 30 years. During the tail end of his career, Lopez combined with Pluto 0 and released For Old Time Sake, which is still available at record shops.
Outside of music, football and “selling rum”, Lopez enjoyed fishing and was a regular angler in Portland.
Lopez is survived by his wife, four children – three boys and a girl, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
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