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A cheque for $10,000 was presented to Patsy Calliste, wife of former National Calypso Monarch Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste), during a virtual concert, in honour of the veteran bard’s 80th birthday on Republic Day.
It represented the proceeds of a collaborative effort by the Presentation Past Pupils Association, alumni, and the Brother Jerome Foundation on her husband’s 80th birthday.
The presentation was one of the high points of the virtual event which attracted full participation by guest artistes, family and friends. The concert was hosted by Kenny Phillips at WACK 90.1 FM’s studio at Coffee Street, San Fernando.
On September 22, 2014, Stalin suffered an ischemic stroke which affected both his speech and movement on the right side of his body. He tuned into the virtual concert from his San Fernando home.
Featured artistes included: Joshua and Caleb Hinds, Christian Rampersad, Alpha B, Janiah, Sister Bev, Tony “Smooth” D, Steven Jackson, Denyse Plumber, Cecilia Salazar, Carol Anderson with Ericson Bernard, Free Town Collective, Karen Eccles, Michelle Henry, A’Janake King Fraser, Kai Anthony Salazar, T’zayay O’Connor, Miguela Simon, Brian London, Brother Valentino, Kevan Calliste, Devon Seale, Joey Rivers, Francis Prime, Pharaoh, Tamika Darius, Eunice Peters, Errol Fabien, Johnny King and Tony P, Kymani Jaquon Williams, and Extempo Mighty Lingo. Also at the event was former President Anthony Carmona, who described Stalin’s body of work as “iconic, a tour de force, calypsonian of exceptional ability.”
Carmona, who said his favourite Stalin calypso is Bun Dem, added: “Bun Dem in my view pre-dates Black Lives Matter because what Stalin was saying in no uncertain terms is that these statues of men and women who have been creatures of infamy ought to be ‘bunned’ and we have a bunning right now because statues are coming down.
“Stalin spoke about that symbolically, metaphorically, nearly 30 years ago. That is the genius of the man and his calypsos. He has never been parochial, insular, defective. He is international.” Stalin’s wife told the virtual audience that he was very excited about the concert.
“Music is his love, he loves to hear good songs, calypso, reggae and steelpan. His health is there, some days he is good and some days not so good but he is 80 and going.
“He is not writing songs but his grandson Kevan would go and ask him to hear this, and he will be impressed by Kevan’s work. The whole family would all go in and extempo for him to keep him up and alive,” she said.
Damion Melville was the master of ceremonies for the concert and musical accompaniment for the artistes was provided by the band Razor Sharp.