THE FORMALITY of the occasion was imposing and the tonsorial and sartorial elegance pervasive. Such was the scene that greeted us as we entered the ballroom at Casa Grande Airport & Hotel Resort in Oldbury, St Philip.
According to the executive director of Sing Out Barbados, Keith Mystic Squires, as quoted from the function brochure, this was a historic and momentous occasion as the group celebrated 40 unbroken years of service in the area of folk, both within and outside the shores of Barbados.
Sing Outers, friends, supporters and Government officials, including Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett, were all there to pay tribute to a group that has made a significant mark on the cultural landscape of this country. The awardees of the evening reflected a story of the involvement of people of all walks of life in the development and success of Sing Out Barbados.
Foremost among those recognised were Sam Taitt, Senator Branford Taitt, Phil Phillips, Mrs Ram Mirchandani, Dr Victor Pidgeon Agard, Keith Mystic Squires, Joan Glasgow and Maria Harris, the only founding member still performing.
Sam Taitt, who has been resident in the United States for many years, is still remembered for his role in popularizing the group in the 1970s and 1980s. The highly successful musicals Pappy and Lick And Lock Up Dun Wid, produced by Sing Out Barbados, have also been credited to his leadership.
The album Barbados Ah Come From, which has been the group’s signature musical piece, was also produced doing his tenure.
Senator Taitt, a relative of Sam, and a former patron of the group, was also a key contributor during Sing Out’s heyday. The presence of the senator, prominent as it was, was more to do with his abounding interest in and love for the group than anything else.
The ever present Mrs Ram was also highly visible in the ceremony on Saturday night. First of all, the event was being held in her hotel and could have been tempted to believe that she was simply keeping an eye on proceedings. We soon discovered that Mrs Ram was an awardee of the evening for the support which she gave to the group in its earlier years.
Phil Phillips was there as a prominent affiliate of the group, having been a former director of Sing Out.
He is perhaps more distinguished for his role in nurturing Edwin Yearwood in his early years when Edwin performed with the group that was to become the popular krosfyah that made a big impact on the musical scene in the Caribbean.
Phil’s mum Coreen Phillips was also there to share the glory of the occasion. We have been reliably informed that not only was she Phil’s caring mother; she also acted as mother for many of the Sing Outers.
The glory for her was double-fold as she was celebrating her birthday on Saturday as well. She looked extremely happy and one could sense that she blushed when she was singled out for attention as the Happy Birthday song was sung for her while the camera crew zoomed in on her to capture her beaming smile.
Dramatisation
One of the highlights of the night was the singing of She’s Royal by Mystic Squires, backed by the Sing Out band Five-In-One, and the vocals of Kenrick El Ponsie Grazette. With suitable dramatisation and passion, Mystic enveloped the hall as he paid tribute to Sing Out Barbados and to Coreen Phillips.
El Ponsie also made a big impression on the gathering, particularly with You’ll Always Be A Friend, as he paid tribute to his colleagues.
The crowning glory of the night was the appearance of Sing Out Barbados members past and present on stage elegantly dressed, colourful, tasteful, and radiant in a fitting finale.
The rhythmic gospel medley that included A Little More Oil In My Lamp, I’m So Glad, Fire, Fire, Fire Fall On Me and Send Down The Gospel Rain created a crescendo that sent the patrons singing all the way home with pleasant memories of Sing Out Barbados.
As the executive director said: “Forty years ain’t forty days.”
