Shock, grief as Ras-I’s manager, JaRIA rep dies in Spain

The entertainment fraternity is experiencing waves of shock and grief following the sudden death of Apryl McIntosh-Smith on Saturday, while in Gran Canaria, Spain.

The CEO of Niche Entertainment Group and director of education at the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), McIntosh-Smith was representing Jamaica at WOMEX 2026 Caribbean Women in the Business of Music expo in Spain. Her company was one of eight women-led music businesses selected for the Caribbean delegation. The mission was described as “an opportunity to connect, collaborate and build new possibilities for Caribbean music internationally”.

McIntosh-Smith who had “a passion for artiste development, music business education and helping Jamaican talent thrive” also had a role which was dear to her heart – manager for Rastafarian reggae singer, Ras-I.

“I’ve worked with many artistes before and, to be honest with you, he is probably the only artiste I have ever really enjoyed working with ... in my heart, literally really want to work with. He has a good heart, he has good intentions. He is literally the epitome of what he sings ... the football, the music, him love him friends dem, him love him family ... very protective. And him love him belly ... let’s not forget that,” McIntosh-Smith told The Gleaner in an interview in May when Ras I was launching his latest album, Heart of Love.

Excited for the future, she spoke at length about Ras-I’s creativity, his dedication to quality music and predicted great things for the entertainer.

“Now we are on the cusp of a third album and I already see I see Grammys ... if not for this album, then certainly in the future. That’s where our mindset is right now. It’s all about expansion, marketing, maintaining the relationships that we have fostered over the years, and building out the team. I have been carrying it for a little while, but it’s time to expand and get him in the right places and spaces,” she said in the interview that is being published for the first time.

In a social media post on Sunday, a devastated Ras-I paid heartfelt tribute to McIntosh-Smith.

“Still can’t believe this is real. You had so much more to offer this world. A mother, a protector and a big sister in one. We laughed, we fussed and then we figured it out as a team and, above all as a family. Jah see and know Apryl it doesn’t feel real not one bit. Always love, Bossy,” Ras-I posted and signed off with a heart emoji.

His colleagues Mortimer, Lila Ike, Kabaka Pyramid and Romain Virgo were among the music fraternity members to respond to the post and express their shock and sorrow.

Chairman of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) Ewan Simpson could not hide his total shock. He had spoken with McIntosh-Smith last Friday.

“I spoke with her the night before her passing. She was updating me on some JaRIA Awards matters and she advised that she was out of the hospital. She informed me that she was hospitalised due to her reaction to mould in a previous hotel room and that she had been suffering from some effects of that,” Simpson told The Gleaner on Sunday.

He said that the entire JaRIA family “has been plunged into shock and disbelief at the sudden passing of our education director” and shared that they all had been “cheering her along as she represented us all at WOMEX”.

Simpson said that everyone at JaRIA was now “in utter grief” at what he termed “the bizarre turn of events”.

“But, even as we mourn, because we must, we reflect on the amazing light that she has been to us. We reflect on Apryl as an all-rounder who was as comfortable in artiste development and production as with management and representation. We reflect on a director whom we could always call to help build bridges across the industry and whose insight and dreams for the future of our entertainment ecosystem continue to loom larger than life,” the JaRIA chairman said in paying tribute to McIntosh-Smith.

He told The Gleaner that, although they were deeply saddened by her untimely passing, the team would remain committed to the goals and vision she so carefully and fearlessly articulated.

“Her service as chair of the Education Committee, as a member of our Awards Committee, as well as our Constitution Advocacy Lobbying and Membership ( CALM) Committee will never be forgotten. We hold her family ... especially her two young daughters ... her close friends and colleagues, in prayer and close to our hearts, even as we grapple with this tragedy,” Simpson said.

The Caribbean Women in Music Market Access Programme for WOMEX 2026 took place from October 21 to October 25, in Gran Canaria, Spain. Also present from Jamaica was Janine ‘Jkuhl’ Coombs, singer-songwriter and deputy director of the Music Unites Jamaica Foundation.

The initiative is supported by the Caribbean Development Bank through its Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund and the SheTrades Caribbean Hub.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com