By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
January 6, 2023
Just a few days after Christmas, one of sons of the region, transitioned at the age of 81. Black Stalin was his sobriquet, but Dr Leroy Calliste was a brilliant man to say the least, when it came to music and lyrics.
He gave us the perfect party song, that once you are in the presence of true Caribbean people at home or abroad in the midst of the diaspora, be sure you will hear “Tonight the black man feeling to party”. And while it’s a song that today triggers the thoughts of appropriation if anyone of any other race sang it or even danced to it, to us in Trinidad and Tobago, land of his birth, the song represented us all in many ways as a Caribbean people, and enjoyed far and wide as Calliste knew his music reached.
Of course he sang the Caribbean Unity song, also dubbed Caribbean Man, which won him popularity across the region in 1979, as it spoke to bringing its people closer together while fueling politicians to keep to true to their word of seeing integration movement come to past.
Its lyrics forever cemented into CARICOM and what it continues to strive for long after the treaty of Chaguaramas was signed, revised, revisited, and reworked.
‘Caribbean Man’ was just one of his political satires he sang that was catchy and resonated with the people. Known as the calypsonian for everyone, he challenged social inequalities with his ‘Wait Dorothy Wait’ in what was supposed to be a soca, turned Kaiso, all while adding the humour and double entendre of financial pressures faced by the people of an oil rich nation and the promise of a good jam with Dorothy if it ever happened. Singing about the issues for Calliste were more than stating the problems endured, but his smart wit knew how to incorporate the solutions to ensuring his people had what it took to be resilient. No better example is found in his tune “We could make it if we try, life will be much sweeter”, which was sung in the time of NAR rule where austerity measures made it challenging for all Trinbagonians across the board.
His songs won him many titles all in 1985, 1987, 1991 and 1995 where he celebrated his long-time friend and Chutney artist, the late Sundar Popo. The scene on the Dimanche Gras stage that year was one of true brotherly love and a shared appreciation for the wonders of Trinidadian music, both Chutney and Calypso. The two could be seen dancing jovially as he sang “Sundar where de song you promise me so long”, as it depicted Stalin’s true love and strive for unity which went above political views and racial divides.. The accolades were not just limited to the stage, as in 1987, he received the Hummingbird medal, one of Trinidad and Tobago’s national awards, for his outstanding contribution of culture, while in October 2008, he became Dr Leroy Calliste, with an honorary doctorate awarded by the University of the West Indies for his tremendous dedication and contribution to Calypso music and culture in Trinidad and Tobago.
His death is one that is felt across the region and wider world. Upon hearing the news of his passing, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley took the time to pen “From the heart” a tribute to the Caribbean man the region lost as “one of our greatest Nation Builders. Each word of his, each sentence of his, carefully crafted by a Maestro to tell OUR story of the Caribbean and OUR people. OUR STORY!”
She remarked Black Stalin as having seen us all, and one who “reminded us of the real concern of “Sufferers” – not to be wallowing in bigotry nor to be used as a background for many others in their causes but in being singularly concerned as to where the next meal is coming from. Never forget it!”
Calliste grew up in the city of San Fernando, located in South Trinidad, and in 2021, he was celebrated with the partial renaming of the popular Lord Street with his name now attached to the signage. And while Carnival was prohibited due to COVID restrictions, the city’s streets came alive for a moment with a mini mas parade, one which He was unable to attend then for the unveiling due to ill health, one which deteriorated since 2014 following a stroke. His wife Patsy, whom he married back in 1974 and shared a life with three children, were sure to take care of him.
In celebrating his life, the city of San Fernando declared January 5th Leroy Calliste day, with his funeral procession through out its streets directed toward the Southern Academy for Performing Arts auditorium for the ceremony. It was surely not a somber one, as many from the calypso and entertaining fraternity were present to join in song and dance celebrating the icon that paved the way ahead of them, and a send off fit for a true Calypso King.
Born on September 24, 1941, Leroy Calliste died on Wednesday December 28, 2022. Its not far from the imagination to ponder where is he right now, surely his song “Bun dem” tells us he is standing at the gates alongside Saint Peter, with “Jah know” ringing out in heaven.