BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Friday led tributes to Sir Charles Emile Straker, the legendary Barbadian entertainer and lead vocalist of The Merrymen, who died earlier in the day at the age of 90.

The cause of death has not been disclosed.

“Early this morning, Barbados awoke to the deeply sad news that Sir Charles Emile Straker, one of our greatest cultural sons and the golden voice of The Merrymen, has gone home,” Mottley wrote, adding “for generations, Sir Emile gave us more than melodies. He gave Barbados a feeling”.