 |
| This photo c.1989-91 was snapped while doing research on calypso in the video archives. |
'The Chief Gladiator Byer/could run de show up at culture/Anyone who knows him will say its true/he document more culture than you'-These lyrics from Jah Stone's Pic-O-de-Crop contribution c.2008-9 are in fact, as they were then, a fitting description now epitaph of the tremendous contribution of Roy Byer to the cultural continuum of Barbados Today. The 'you' to which Jah Stone referred was the NCF and while the judges of the day did not find favour with Stone's scathing indictment against them, few could deny that it was a stirring tribute to Peter Roy Byer...more affectionately known as Roy Byer -pronounced Baa-er/uh. Byer was also immortalised unwittingly in song before. Frank Sinatra's 'I did it my way' readily leaps to mind when I reminisce of the Roy Byer I knew and had a great appreciation for. He was a man who was never afraid to speak his mind to friend or foe with little fear or seeming care of repercussion. Perhaps some found this not to be his most endearing characteristic but it was a characteristic which earned him much respect and admiration-If in need of an honest opinion ask Roy Byer.
Love and Chance...
However despite his often brutal honesty Byer was a man who truly loved Calypso and the culture of Barbados and did whatever he could to preserve and develop it. He was the man who took a chance on so many a calypsonian many of whom have gone onward to much fame and acclaim-there first invitation to the stage came from Roy Byer. At his beloved Village Gate, Byer worked tirelessly with the help of others-many who would come and go with the seasons and a select few who stuck in for the long haul-to give the opportunity to stand and be counted among these vying for the Pic-O-de-Crop to those who had no chance of doing so in a 'big tent.' These performers were without 'name' but brought fresh talent with which Byer was more concerned with harnessing for the development of the art form and took a chance on them. The results of these ventures were often not box office successes, but rather they laid the foundations for many firsts in Calypso which can only redound to the benefit of the artform, its exponents and its fans.
Innovator...
Byer was an innovator not afraid to take chances and try new ideas, he hosted an all female tent with an exclusively female cast and also put together an all female band. Most recently he embraced the VIP-visually impaired-calypsonians and welcomed them into mainstream Crop Over activities. Though none of them made it past preliminary judging it was a special honour to see Size Two represent the Kingdom of the Super Gladiators when he guest performed during the 2014 Pic-O-de-Crop finals. Sadly, this would be Byer's last direct contribution to that contest, but surely it has opened the door for the differently-able community to come into the mainstream of Crop Over celebrations.
Of Note...
While Byer was never one to blow his own trumpet, many a trumpeter, saxophonist, trombonist, bass player, guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and drummer got their first experience of the'tent' onstage at the Village Gate. Byer's philosophy was simple 'What was the sense of producing high quality musicians annually and not give them the opportunity to expose their talents and hone their skills-The Super Gladiators tent band with ONLY TWO members over 30, won the tent band of the year for Crop Over 2014. Most of the members are 25 and under including the band leader.
HLWLO...
I could go on about Byer's forays into Calypso; The Kingdom of The Super Gladiators and underdog but 25 years on still as tenacious as ever after many a 'top dog's' demise... his production of a 'King of Kings' competition in the 1980's which invited the top calypso talent in the world to do battle in Barbados. Rather I will end with the refrain of Jah Stone's chorus;
'I am qualified to do what I'm here to do/ ask your conscience are you qualified too'
Roy Byer qualified...May his legacy live on in many calypsos to come...Roy Byer, gone but never forgotten...HLWLO...
