MONTREAL - It was standing room only as a heartfelt funeral service took place Monday morning for Paul Frappier, a musician who performed under the stage name Bad News Brown.
Mourners packed into the cavernous St. Zotique church in St. Henri to pay their respects to a man who was murdered just over one week ago.
The 33-year-old father of a two-year-old began his musical career by busking in metro stations and achieved international fame, performing as an opening act for Snoop Dogg, Kanye West and 50 Cent.
Born in Haiti, Frappier moved to Montreal when he was adopted by a Quebecois couple as an infant.
People who knew Frappier, like his friend Jordan Buisserath, say he was a role model and example for members of the community.
"He was always there for me. He showed me how to, like, how to do in life, how to act with everybody, how to do good thing, and Bad News is a really good man," said Euisserath.
Tributes to Frappier have been arriving all week, via messages on Facebook or Frappier's webpage, music videos appearing on YouTube, and other venues.
Murder unsolvedFrappier's body was discovered on February 12 in in a crime that has mystified police.
Passersby found him lying a few blocks from home at the corner of William and Richmond streets, victim of a attack for which police have no suspects or motives.
Frappier had spent the previous day in a recording studio and was supposed to perform this past weekend in Quebec City.
In 2009, he released a solo album called Born 2 Sin.
