The entertainment fraternity is mourning the death of the late Philip 'Fattis' Burrell who they described as a 'legend' and 'cornerstone' that will be missed.

Burrell, who was affectionately called 'Fattis' died on Saturday evening, after slipping into a coma early that morning. A release from Burrell's family said the legendary producer and artiste manager had been a patient at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Mona, where he had been admitted two weeks ago after suffering a mild stroke. The release said Burrell took a turn for the worse last Tuesday when doctors discovered a blood clot near to his lungs.

Yesterday, members of the entertainment fraternity paid tribute to the man many referred to as 'father'.

"He was a cornerstone in the music industry and he did a lot for the youth. He gave many of us a chance and gave the world some good talent like Sizzla, Sanchez, Beres (Hammond) and a lot of other persons," said Richard 'Bread back' Bramwell, a studio engineer who worked with Fattis.

"No one is dealing with it well. We called him father because he was like a father figure to most of us youths," he added.

Burrell's son, Kareem, said the family was deeply affected by his death.

"Right now mi torn up by it. He was a good man and caregiver. It really affect me," he said.

In the release, Burrell's family added that, "the family of Philip 'Fattis' Burrell wishes to thank friends, well-wishers and the staff at the UHWI for their care and support and ask for your prayers at this time."

Meanwhile, other members of the entertainment fraternity also paid tribute to Fattis.

New York-based journalist Vinette Pryce said "he will always be in my memory. Fattis used to get me susumba whenever I visit his home. He used to take me to a Seventh-day Adventist place to eat. He was first to invite me to Japan to see Luciano ... I could go on...He was my friend," she said.

The tributes also poured out on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook. Ward 21 called Fattis a 'legend' while headline entertainment honcho Jerome Hamilton said "rip Philip 'Fattis' Burrell, Xterminator records, former manager of Luciano and Sizzla."

Other tributes came from Donna Hope, lecturer at the University of the West Indies and Ollimatta, publicist for dancehall artiste Sizzla.

At the time of his death, Fattis had played a major role in establishing the careers of Sizzla Kalonji, Luciano, Pinchers, Thriller U and Sanchez on an international level.

Apart from Luciano and Sizzla, Fattis also worked with several of reggae's greatest artistes including Beres Hammond, Frankie Paul, Gregory Isaacs, Charlie Chaplin, Capelton, Cocoa Tea, Gentleman and Ini Kamoze.

The family, in the release, said details of his funeral will be communicated this week.