Emotional night in memory of Observer

It was an evening filled with moving tributes and humorous tales as one close-knit St. Michael community came together to pay homage to one of its legends.

Residents of the Grazettes area held an intimate vigil on Sunday for their late neighbour and friend, veteran calypsonian Colin Observer Reid. Candles were lit as many of Observer’s classic Calypso selections were played in between tributes from his friends and Calypso contemporaries. Though the general atmosphere was a solemn one, residents were pleased to see that though his death was sudden, the legacy of his biting lyrics would live on.

Seasoned calypsonian Colin Spencer spoke fondly of the late performer, and said that though it was not well known, he and Reid were extremely close friends.

“I spent many hours here [his home] with Observer and he is one of the persons that after having a lengthy conversation with him, I would leave here feeling refreshed. There was inspiration that came out of him that after talking to him, you could go home and write a song. Observer was always my man,” he explained.

David Kid Site Piggott also attended the evening’s vigil, and recounted the great rivalry the two had over the years.

“He was always an artist that I loved very much, I was very much impressed by his work. He was a great calypsonian. In 1991 is where be brought that tremendous song called The Cat Attack. Everybody felt that Observer should have been the calypso king, but you know who won that night, Kid Site with Don’t Mistake Me For Gabby and No More Lies. You know who came second? Bumba. Observer placed third… I felt he should have won. He is artist that I love, and it hurt me when I heard how he died,” Piggott stated.

Residents in the area voiced their support to invest in a memorial of some sort in the area, so that the name, legacy and impact the stalwart had in the community, would be remembered for future generations to come.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb