Songbird Darlington succumbs to cancer

Regional entertainer and former Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition winner Sharon Darlington has been remembered for having a beautiful soul and a heart of humility.

Darlington succumbed to her battle with cancer on Thursday, after a recent diagnosis.

Richard Stoute, Darlington’s close friend, mentor and the founder of the contest she won more than a decade ago, said her humility was one of her most outstanding attributes.

“She was humble and she loved life. I don’t think I ever spoke to her where she didn’t mention God. She was very conscious of the fact that there was a redeemer and he was responsible for her life. Her spiritual understanding stood out for me more than everything else,” he told Barbados TODAY.

Reflecting on Darlington’s entry to the music scene, he said he was struck by her phenomenal voice when she participated in the competition in 1991.

“She was just a young girl and she was just so talented. From the time I heard her sing, I knew that there was some talent. She did a song called Never Never Never by Shirley Bassey and she did it better than Shirley Bassey . . . and the place just went wild,” Stoute said as he reflected on Darlington’s entrance to the music scene.

From there, Stoute said, the then 18-year-old started singing with bands and he got her a contract to sing on a cruise liner which she did for many years.

It was at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that Darlington reached out to Stoute and told him about her health situation and he did not hesitate to offer a hand.

“She came back to Barbados [two years ago] and told me she would like to have a meeting with me. She explained to me what she was going through and she told me she was ill and that she needed help. I put together a concert for her – it was during COVID times so it was restricted, but . . . I had 31 of the [Teen Talent Competition] graduates perform for her from the entertainment arena,” he said.

The benefit concert to raise funds for Darlington’s treatment was a huge success.

Stoute explained that the then 47-year-old had given her life to God and spoke lovingly of her relationship with the Father above.

“She told me that God was going to help her through this and she had a firm belief in God, and it didn’t matter what the doctors would say she believed he would help her through. She struggled but things got worse, and when God is ready for you it doesn’t matter. She was struggling and today was the day she was taken away from us. She was a wonderful young woman,” Stoute added in a low voice.

“She is in a better place. God will take care of her and I want to offer my condolences to her family, friends, and the whole Teen Talent fraternity because if something happens to one of them I ensure I’m right there with them to help them.”

Stoute expressed thanks to the former Teen Talent members who rallied around Darlington during the launch of the concert on December 13 at Solidarity House in 2020.

“To get 31 of them to come out for her that evening to give their support was emotional for me – when I saw the ones from way back in the 70s and the massive support they gave her,” he added.

Stoute said he hopes to form a Richard Stoute Organisation to help those in need.

“These are the days when we need each other more than ever before. Let people pool their resources and we would have a better country. If five people live in a house and you put down one dollar a day, at the end of the year you would have $1,800. I wonder how many people would understand that. I think we need to pool our resources together because these are very difficult times. People need each other now more than they ever did before,” he said. (MR)