Tag Archives: obituary

Once again, the calypso fraternity and the nation of Trinidad and Tobago have been plunged into mourning with the passing of Anthony Emrold Phillip, affectionately known as Brother Valentino, The People’s Calypsonian. Born in Grenada on 7 July 1941 and brought to Trinidad as a child, Brother Valentino’s journey was …

Today, Trinidad and Tobago, and indeed the Caribbean, bids farewell to a true cultural giant. With the passing of Dr Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow, affectionately known as the Birdie, we have lost far more than a legendary calypsonian. We have lost a storyteller, a social commentator, an entertainer, a …

On 14 July, Spain offered a sublime display of football savoir faire to the world and knocked the French out of this year’s Fifa World Cup in the semi-final. Five days later, on 19 July, the Spaniards overcame the defensive and unenterprising Argentinians in the final, to take their second …

“[…] Truth be told, BC embodied the spirit of the Calypso Tent more than the Newsroom. He was a hybrid, in some sense, of Winston Bailey and HL Mencken. “[…] Kind, generous and determined to make a difference in a world populated by the indifferent…” The following Letter to the …

“[…] Black Stalin was a standard bearer of Carnival traditions whose work spans from pre-independence to the present. In the 1950s, Stalin began as a limbo dancer, then later devoted the next 60 years of his career to developing the Calypso art form…” The following statement on the death of …

“[…] Sandra Des Vignes-Millington is among only three female calypsonians to have won the National Calypso Monarch title and the only one to have won it on two occasions. “Singing Sandra will long be remembered, not only for her commitment to the art form, but even more so for the …

As the homage continues, your pores raise as the senses are met with the incomprehensible but instantly recognisable “Ah be a ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya wha-wha-wha.” Who else but Winston Bailey could open a tune with his own blend of words and letters as a melody, to float upon the one he has …