An aspiring musician took his own life after feeling “overwhelmed” by his career prospects and splitting from his girlfriend, an inquest heard.
Caleb Quaye was the son of reggae singer Finley Quaye, who scored top 20 hits in the late 1990s with Sunday Shining, Even After All and Your Love Gets Sweeter.
Caleb, 24, was working as a roadie with other bands to help check out their audio equipment after moving into his mother Mercedes Gutierrez’s house.
On July 7, his mother found him hanged the morning after playing his final gig at a local club in Brighton.
The hearing at Brighton and Hove Coroner’s Court heard the musician was struggling to cope with recent events in his life.
Musician Caleb Quaye, 24, was found dead at his mother’s Brighton home on July 7 after feeling depressed about his career and a breakup with his girlfriend.
Caleb’s father Finley, 49, who won British awards at the height of his success in the 90s, escaped a prison sentence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week after admitting destroying the coffee from his former partner shortly after Caleb’s death.
Ms Guiterrez told the coroner: “He felt overwhelmed by the problems and was fighting with himself.
“His girlfriend had broken up with him three days before.
At the time of his death, Caleb was awaiting an evaluation for his ADHD and was practicing yoga to calm his mood.
His group hadn’t made as much progress as he would have liked and he was heading “to dark places,” his mother said.
“He had previously harmed himself and had cigarette burns on his face,” she said.
“He never talked about suicide, but he said he was heading to a dark place.” He would set up stages so other musicians could make money.
Caleb’s father Finley, 49, who won Brit Awards at the height of his success in the 90s, escaped a prison sentence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week after admitting destroying the coffee from his former partner shortly after Caleb’s death.
Quaye forced the front door of his ex-girlfriend Rena Gawa’s business in the Scottish capital on July 15 and threw chairs and flowers before smashing several glasses.
Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss offered his condolences to Quaye, who lives in Kensington, west London, over his bereavement and sentenced him to a 12-month supervision order.
The sheriff also agreed not to impose a non-harassment order.
Ms Gutierrez said she last saw her son alive when he entered her bedroom at her home in Hove at 3 or 4am playing loud music.
Caleb was the son of reggae singer Finley Quaye (pictured), 49, who scored top 20 hits in the late 1990s and is pictured at the Brit Awards in 1998.
“I wondered if he had taken anything. He was dramatic and loved attention.
“He took it hard when he messed up and had his ups and downs. »
She said she woke up at 7 a.m. the day he died and ventured downstairs, where she could see the top of his head.
After realizing what had happened, she ran into the street and called for help.
Caleb’s paternal aunt, Annia Summers, told the hearing via video link that she had spoken to her nephew just hours earlier.
“He had a dual diagnosis of addiction and depression, but we were planning a trip to Yorkshire and the Womad festival (an arts event),” she said.
“He said he was looking to be referred to talking therapies. I said I was proud of him for reaching out.
“At no time did I have the shadow of any dark presentiment. »
The court heard Caleb had alcohol and cocaine in his blood when he died.
Coroner Joanne Andrews said drugs were not found in sufficient quantities to have contributed to his death.
An autopsy revealed a single ligature mark around his neck and no signs of third-party involvement.
Recording a finding of suicide, the coroner said: “I would like to say to all the family how sorry I was to hear of his death and pass on my deepest condolences to you all. »
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