Friday funeral for Brother Superior at Rio Claro

THE body of the late veteran calypsonian Dr Andrew Marcano, Brother Superior, has returned home for burial in the place of his birth at Rio Claro. The body arrived in his native TT on Tuesday, from the United States where he died on November 24. The funeral is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 7, at 4 pm, following a final farewell at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port of Spain from 10 am.

On Thursday, however, there will be a public viewing and tribute for Supie as he was fondly known, at the CAL Skiffle pan yard and the Belgroves Funeral Home, both on Coffee Street, San Fernando between 6-9 pm

San Fernando Mayor Junia Regrello and Skiffle’s CEO, said he is not certain whether the viewing will be done at Belgoves or at the pan yard as that arrangement is still to be finalised.

“Because Belgroves is just over the road from us there is the possibility the viewing will take place there and the reception could take place at the pan yard. That will be determined by this evening but whatever the arrangement, Skiffle’s pan yard is a base for all kinds of events and we are happy to facilitate.”

He said he willingly consented to a request from Superior’s wife, Dr Janet Stanley-Marcano, to host the celebration of his life and times at the pan yard on Thursday night.

“There will be an appreciation of his life tomorrow night, with his music being played. A live band will be present, and tributes will be paid to him by people in the art form."

At last week’s statutory meeting at the San Fernando City Corporation, Regrello paid tribute to Superior as he danced and sang the chorus from one of the bard’s musical gems, San Fernando Carnival, which was piped in the chamber.

“San Fernando Carnival is one of my favourite Superior’s songs. His voice made it special and he did it in the sweetest way covering what San Fernando is all about. You have this song and Calypso Rose Ah Going down San Fernando. Whenever anybody pay tribute to San Fernando it registers with me. Those songs are special to me because it speaks of my city.”

Superior, 82, is the third calypso icon to have died in recent months. Winston Bailey, the Shadow died days before he was scheduled to receive an honourary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus. He was followed by Winston Scarborough, D Original De Fosto Himself, who attended and sang at Shadow’s funeral.

Moriba Marcano, described his father as, “a great man and a visionary of his time writing songs to help guide humanity in general and his people in specific. Sadly misunderstood and underappreciated, I studied the man like a text book and I only hope that his genius and goodwill will be more easily recognised in the afterlife.”

The Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts also acknowledged Supie as “a musician, guitarist, singer, a consummate professional who was always impeccably dressed and spent much of his life both on and off stage promoting TT culture through the calypso art form.”