By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE rich musical legacy of Dr Leroy Calliste aka ”Black Stalin” will continue to live on for guidance and memory says Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
In a post on his social media page, Dr Rowley stated, “It was the Mighty Sniper who very aptly said that ‘By calypso our stories are told”. Very few bards told our stories more effectively than the Black Stalin. He was a master.
“His passing leaves us poorer but his rich legacy of poetic calypso lyrics and haunting musical lines will all live on for our guidance and in his enduring memory. May we always remember his contribution.”
Stalin, five-time calypso monarch champion passed away on Wednesday at age 81.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar also joined the nation in mourning “a legendary son of the soil and a true Caribbean giant.”
In a media release on Wednesday, she said that Stalin elevated the art form of Calypso and social commentary to new heights and fearlessly confronted the important issues of the day and boldly spoke truth to power.
His repertoire of classic songs including ‘ Black man feeling to party’, ‘’Wait Dorothy Wait’, ‘Burn Dem’ and ‘Caribbean Man’ will all live on for generations to come, Persad-Bissessar said.
She added, “On a personal note, my favourite ‘Stalin’ song is ‘ We can make it if we try’. This classic Calypso perfectly captures the spirit of what true patriotism is about, the value of hard work and self-sacrifice during tough times for the good of all of our people.”
She quoted from “We can make it if we try,” which states, “For we country facing its darkest hour, So our people need us today more than ever, But in our fight to recover, if ever you feel to surrender, It have one little thing that I want you always remember…We could make it if we try just a little harder, If we just give one more try, life will be much sweeter.”
Persad-Bissessar said, “Today as our nation faces immense challenges such as high crime and unemployment let us take inspiration from the genius of the legendary Black Stalin.”
