The curtains have been drawn on the life of Dr Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste. The cultural icon died at this home in San Fernando around 8.30 am yesterday, leaving the nation and the world in mourning.
The calypso bard, who was 81, had been battling with his health since September 22, 2014, when he was struck down by an ischaemic stroke.
In recent, years he had been mostly confined to his San Fernando home due to the stroke affecting his speech and movement on the right side of his body.
Speaking to Guardian Media yesterday, his younger sister, Gloria Calliste, said that the last days seeing her brother had played on her emotionally.
“It has been five years since he had the stroke but in the late half, I did not want to see my brother in the condition he was in and I did not want to see him,” Gloria admitted.
“I always wanted to remember him as my brother Leroy with his pet name “Lo Loy” and my name Gloria with my pet name “Go Go,” so I always wanted to remember him as that person Leroy Calliste.”
She added that as children, she and Black Stalin had a very close relationship.
Gloria explained, “Nobody doesn’t know anything about Leroy but me. Whoever say they knew him, they know him but not as good as me, that was my brother. In growing up, we shared this love together but I was the person who protected him from the girls and this was before he started in the calypso arena.”
Before his music career, the Black Stalin was a limbo dancer long before he became a calypsonian
He embarked on his calypso career in 1959, performing at an event in Ste Madeleine before he made his tent debut in 1962 as a member of the Southern Brigade cast.
Calliste credited fellow calypsonian, the late Carlton “Lord Blakie” Joseph, with giving him his sobriquet.
Gloria confirmed this, saying, “At an event in Siparia, where he went to do limbo dancing, he heard a calypsonian by the name of Successor singing calypso and when the performance was over, he turned to me and told me, ‘Gloria, I think I want to sing calypso’ but I told him that you never liked calypso, especially when our brother Dennis use to write them, and he said ‘but I heard this man here and I was moved by his lyrics’ and it was there his love for the art form started.”
Black Stalin was born on September 24, 1941, in San Fernando, one of four children of George and Elcina Calliste. He grew up on Coffee Street and attended San Fernando Boys’ RC School. This street was later renamed after him.
His first Calypso Monarch title came in 1979 when he sang “Caribbean Man” and “Play One.” He was crowned Calypso Monarch four more times, in 1985, 1987, 1991, and 1995.
His other memorable, competition-winning calypsoes include Ism Schism, Wait Dorothy, Mr Panmaker, Bun Dem, Look on the Bright Side, Black Man Feelin’ to Party, and Tribute to Sundar Popo.
For his sterling contributions to T&T’s musical landscape, Black Stalin was awarded the Hummingbird Medal (Silver) in 1987 and on October 31, 2008, he was conferred with an honorary doctorate—Doctor of Letters (DLitt)—by The University of the West Indies, St Augustine.
San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello, who offered his condolences yesterday, said the Black Stalin was a friend and icon, as he worked and supported the Skiffle Bunch Steelpan Orchestra.
“The city of San Fernando is in mourning with the passing of this iconic and distinguished man, Dr Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste, who has made his name in the art form of calypso over the decades and I know he started his career in the early ‘60s and would have made tremendous contributions over the years and maintained that consistently over the years and the city has lost a son and we should be flying our flag at half-mast today.” He added, “In San Fernando, Stalin supported a lot of the steelbands but I can remember him supporting Skiffle Bunch over years and he supported culture in a very general way and I can call him Mr San Fernando.”
The San Fernando Mayor said that the council should meet next week and they will also decide what will be a fitting tribute to Calliste.
Regrello is also letting the family know that the city of San Fernando is also willing to assist with anything that is needed for the Black Stalin’s send-off.
