Reporter
carisa.lee@guardian.co.tt
Calypso or steel pan music used to be played regularly on the radio or television in Clyde “d Outlaw” Jemmott’s childhood home in Morvant. That was where he developed his love for music, his sister Jannelle said.
In their eulogy at his funeral service yesterday, Jemmott’s sisters, Michelle and Jannelle, recalled that when their mother purchased a dual cassette player, Clyde became fascinated with it.
“Whenever Clyde was missing at home he would be in Mummy’s room fiddling with her music collections,” Jannelle said.
The funeral for the popular DJ, who died in a car accident on the Point Fortin Highway on November 26, took place at the Daybreak Assembly, Coconut Drive, Morvant, followed by interment at Belgroves Orange Grove Memorial Gardens, Orange Grove Road, Trincity.
His sisters said after completing Form Five Jemmott started making his own tapes and in the 90s there was the “Gathering” where the aspiring DJ and his friends would play music and hang out.
“Mom did not object until the gathering started to grow immensely in numbers,” Jannelle recalled.
Jemmott eventually got a job at the T&T Radio Network Limited and his sisters said they thought he would carry them to parties since he was DJ but he was very selective about where they went.
They said the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on Jemmott as it did with most people in the entertainment industry but they got to spend more time with him and saw him take better care of his health.
“He changed his diet, he walked every evening and spent more time home,” they said.
Also paying tribute to the late DJ was his employer Anthony Chow Lin On who said Jemmott was one of the pillars of OJO World and was a good DJ who always played the right song at the right time.
Chow Lin On said he would always go to Jemmott if he needed information on a song or party and he got it right every time.
“He was my go to guy, I trusted his opinion,” he said.
Chow Lin On said other members of OJO shared similar opinions of the late DJ, “Rodey said he’s a silent teacher says little but means a lot, Jaiga said he’s an amazing outlaw dedicated to everyone and their team, Signal to Noise, another foundation member, said to me you won’t find someone who doesn’t like Clyde, if there is that person is not on earth.” Chow Lin On said.
Reverend Dr Benjamin Agard, who officiated at the funeral service, reminded the congregation that God is in charge of tomorrow and urged them to stop procrastinating.
“If you want to tell your mother that you love her, tell her you love her. You have something to do, do it and stop putting it off. Help somebody while you can,” he said, adding that no one is promised tomorrow.