IT’S A LONG time ago – and I don’t even want to think how long. But it was in the early years of the then Radio Barbados 900 AM. Oh well, it was in the 1960s, We had the opportunity to be the first radio station in the region, as I recall, to have a live link-up request 30-minute programme with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
I was the Barbados announcer. Each station chose their own music and among the selections I chose was one by Joseph Niles. Of course, that created a mini firestorm the next day. “How could I play Joseph Niles on the BBC?” Well, let me say what I thought then and still do now: his was and is the authentic sound of Barbados gospel music. Thank you, Joseph Niles.
Another person, a colleague at CBC, Whitfield Aloysius, has also left this earthly plane. Who, you ask, is Whitfield Aloysius? I believe you knew him as “Gerry”. That’s right: sportscaster “Gerry” Richards has passed. He had been ailing for some time.
When I joined Rediffusion, “Gerry” had already been one of their seasoned sportscasters. We both left Rediffusion to join Radio Barbados to be among the first set of staff. Gerry got along well with all his colleagues with his familiar style when encountering new or difficult names: “Hit it and go.”
Joseph and Gerry, we thank you for your service to this country. One thing is certain: now that you are calling on the royal telephone there shall be no busy signal. Be in joy.
– Michael Rudder