JESSE RAMDEO
A Carnival-like celebration erupted in the capital city yesterday, as beloved soca star Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart was laid to rest.
Accompanied by music trucks, his family, friends and fans took to the streets, following the hearse bearing his body while singing along to his popular soca hits.
His funeral began around 10 am at the Grand Stand of the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain.
Scores of people, some donning T-shirts bearing an image of Blaxx, came out to bid their final farewell to the man behind popular soca tracks such as ‘Hulk’, ‘Leh Go’, ‘Tantie Woi’ and ‘Rankin Ting.’
Blaxx, dubbed the ‘People’s Champion’ and known for his infectious soca songs, died on March 28 as a result of COVID-19 complications.
In his opening prayer during the funeral ceremony, Father Robert Christo referenced lines from some of Blaxx’s most popular songs.
“Lord, we thirst to let go and cling to your promise. Father, we pray that you ban we belly, whatever is given to us, salt and fig. Teach our children sacrifice, service and struggle. Help us Lord to have that Hulk within us so we can conquer any problems,” Christo said.
The tributes were kicked off with a medley of Blaxx’s songs popularised by Zachary De Lima and the sister duo of Xavier Strings.
The closest to Blaxx, his children, described their father as amazing beyond measure.
Delivering the eulogy, Mickello Stewart said, “Keep laughing, keep singing in the heavens, what we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all we have loved deeply become part of us.”
Long time friend and member of Blaxx’s management team, Giselle Gellineau-Penrose, recounted the artiste’s final days and his spirit in the lead-up to his death. According to her, Blaxx was not daunted by his medical condition and still wanted to contribute to the soca 2022 landscape.
She said, “Blaxx, I miss you. Fast forward to 2022, Blaxx sent me this new song named Mash Up. He usually sends me his songs before recording or when he does the vocals, as I am known for my brutally honest critique. The moment I heard the song I knew this was the one. It would be more than a hit, it would be a classic. He said ‘Giz, once it have Soca Monarch I going to beat Voice’ and I turned to him and say Blaxx, you say that every year though.”
Aaron “Voice” St Louis delivered an emotional tribute to a man he described as a mentor. During his performance, St Louis said he was still struggling to cope with Blaxx’s death.
“Dexter Stewart, my mentor, my teacher, my helper, the person to give me a chance. I cry so many times and it still hurts,” St Louis said.
Other colleagues Blaxx once shared the stage with also paid tribute in song. Many of them, including Destra Garcia, Jevaughn “V’ghn” John, Austin “Superblue” Lyons and Teddyson John opted for more sombre selections.
As the tributes were delivered, family and friends alike seemed dazed, expressing their disbelief that the ‘Hulk’ singer was no longer with them.
Port-of-Spain South MP Keith Scotland, in his contribution to the gathering, said Blaxx’s legacy will live on.
“The Hulk, Blaxx, will never die, he will live on through his works and children, he will live on through you,” Scotland told the artiste’s children.
After the nearly-three hour ceremony, celebrations erupted as the hearse made its way through the streets and towards downtown Port-of-Spain.
The scenes reflected a party-like atmosphere, as many sang and danced to songs of the late artiste. However, many disregarded COVID-19 protocols, doing away with social distancing or wearing face masks. As a result, police eventually intervened and dispersed the crowd.