Observer laid to rest

Late calypsonian Colin Observer Reid has been remembered as a singer and writer who was a master of his craft, but one who seemed never to get a fair break on the big stage.

During a funeral service at the Coral Ridge Chapel last Saturday, Cultural Ambassador Dr Anthony Gabby Carter said his friend, who was a tailor by trade, was a master of melody and a brilliant phrasing boss whose unexpected passing was a tremendous loss.

He recalled that Reid, whom he also described as unselfish, would sit quietly at rehearsals and disappear as soon as the calypsonian for whom he wrote, sang.

“I would call him and say: ‘Colin, listen here, you cannot fool me; that song is a classic, a beauty’. He would laugh and admit that it was his composition. I would laugh and tell him ‘man if you did keep it, you would be hard to beat in competition’,” Carter told those attending the service.

“He would say ‘Gabberts man, I fed up, I hate competing now. They don’t hear what I am writing, I would still be left out anyhow’. He had good grounds for venting, most calypsonians knew that.”

Throughout the service, Reid was also remembered as a mentor, sincere friend, charming, witty, one who loved, trustworthy, full of understanding and always ready to share his knowledge about life or music with others.

Members of the cultural industry and family and friends heard that he had a huge heart, was always smiling, never minced words and was a true professional. Reid was also described as a creative performing artist and music producer.

The calypsonian was found dead at his Grazettes, St Michael home on September 3.

In reading the eulogy, his friend Trevor Browne, said the deceased’s daughter, Zena, had related how she was grateful to have her father in her life for 32 years. Browne said Zena noted that for others that may seem like a great amount of time, but for her it felt as though they had only just met because she was given a chance to learn something new about her beloved dad every time they were together or spoke to each other.

“He was one of the [humblest] persons to walk on God’s green earth. He always felt like he had to give to others. His riches were not in material things, but they were definitely in his heart. His love for me went beyond what anyone could imagine,” Reid’s daughter said.

“He wanted me to learn music or tailoring. Let me just say that both his trades I attempted, but shortly after I realised that only a few were that gifted and I was proud to know that my dad was one. I surely didn’t make the cut.

“He was so happy when my daughter was so eager to come by and spend time with him. I have so many memories to share and I am glad I do. We never argued; we would agree to disagree. I would always tell my friends that I have the same amount of love for both my parents, but I definitely was, and always will be, Daddy’s girl,” Zena added.

Browne said he met Reid around the 1990s at a tailor shop owned by Lionel Williams who was known in the calypso fraternity as King William. He said his friend was critical of other people’s songs and made suggestions as to how they could be improved.

“He would criticise not because he wanted you to feel bad, but because he wanted you to do better. He always strove for perfection. He also criticised his own work and seemed never to be satisfied with it. When he wrote a kaiso, which is what he used to call his songs, he would keep changing something after every performance. No two performances were ever the same. His melodies were always composed to suit the lyrical theme and he produced rhythms and rhymes with every syllable in perfect time,” Browne said.’

As a calypsonian, Reid started his tent career in 1983 and sang with Scorpions, House of Soca and later Kaiso Palace before joining Contenders in 1990.

“That year he sang Cat Attack and School Girl in the Pic-O-De-Crop Competition – which, in the opinion of most calypso fans, was one of the worst judging decisions in the history of calypso in Barbados – he was placed third. Cat Attack went on to place second in the Tune-Of-De-Crop that year and he was hailed as the People’s King. He was a finalist in every competition he entered between 1990 and 1998 as a member of Contenders,” Browne said.

Reid was laid to rest at Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens.
(AH)