De Fosto dies

UPDATE:

Composer, music arranger and calypsonian Winston Scarborough, better known as The Original De Fosto Himself, died between 9 pm on Thursday and 8 am yesterday at his Almond Court home in Morvant.

He turned 64 in September.

His death comes just ten days after the death of another calypso great. Winston Bailey, the Shadow.

De Fosto’s son Gabriel, who lived with him, found his father motionless in bed yesterday after calling at his bedroom door for about 45 minutes without answer.

Fellow calypsonian and close friend Duane O’Connor, who went to the house after Gabriel called him, said the latter told him De Fosto had called Gabriel about 7 pm on Thursday to come home early because he was not feeling good, and was going to take an early night.

O’Connor helped Gabriel call an ambulance, the Morvant police and the district medical officer, as well as getting paperwork done in relation to the death.

He also found time to tell Newsday: “Devon Seale, Karene Asche and I had a special relationship with De Fosto and his son. As a matter of fact, we were the last set of people liming with them after Shadow’s funeral on Tuesday.

“This is just too depressing.”

In the three-way telephone conversation, Seale said De Fosto had performed a new song that he wrote in tribute to Shadow at the funeral. “He was the final performer before the hearse was driven away.

“I am at a loss for words right now. I spoke to him at the funeral service and he looked so good in his white that I told him, ‘Whatever you are doing, keep it up.’

“This is definitely a big one. We have lost a true soldier.”

Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, also expressed her sadness at De Fosto’s passing. In an immediate release, she said: “This is yet another national icon and patriot lost, it is almost too much to bear having seen him just a few days ago at Shadow’s funeral.

“Winston Scarborough was a true patriot, singing not for the glory but for the love of country. He was passionate and deeply in love with this country. He will be remembered as a prolific composer and performer, always dressed in TT’s national colours. He was well loved for his ability to create the ideal ‘pan tune’ calypsoes.”

De Fosto was also noted for composing a song on the spur of the moment to celebrate any national occasion or world achievement by TT citizens over the years,

When he was hospitalised at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in June, he told Newsday he was looking forward to visits from the likes of the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, ILP leader Austin Jack Warner and former minister Dr Roodal Moonilal.

He said then: “I was part of making them make history, so just as how I was there for them, I also believe they should be there for me and not just to perform at their political event. Artistes need that grain of respect. I was there for everybody.”

De Fosto left the hospital without any of the desired visits.

Later, at a benefit concert at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts, We are One, held to assist with his medical expenses, De Fosto became very emotional. He cried as he thanked his fellow artistes and calypso lovers who came out to show him love and support.

Abandoned as a baby with no name, De Fosto was found in Belmont, Port of Spain, by a woman from Tobago named Beatrice Clark, who took him to the Tacarigua Orphanage. It was there that he was given the surname Scarborough, after the capital of Tobago.

De Fosto’s musical skills were noted and honed in at the orphanage, where he learned to read and write music.

In 1976 he made his debut in the calypso arena, but it was his songs written with Panorama in mind that had the steelband and calypso fraternities paying special attention to his offerings. It was as though he took a page right out of the book of the grandmaster of pan tunes, the late Aldwyn “Kitchener” Roberts.

Like Kitchener, De Fosto scored hundreds of songs for pan, among them Pan in A Rage, Pan Forevermore, One More Kitchener, Bradley, Dr Jit, A Blue Crescendo, In De Minor and winning Panorama selections Four Lara Four, Fire Storm, Pandora, War 2004 and Pan Lamentation.
Many will recall his famous line at the beginning of most of these songs: “Fire on de mountain!”
The new Pan Trinbago president and its executive extended its deepest sympathy to the calypso fraternity and the national community on De Fosto’s passing. They said De Fosto will be remembered as one of the all-time great composers of steelpan music.

A release from Pan Trinbago said: “During his illustrious music career spanning some 40 years, Scarborough had composed many a tune inspired for the pan. In fact, steelbands favoured his compositions with his selections often played many times at Panorama competitions.

“Pan Trinbago and the entire steelband body commiserate with his extended family on their loss.”

O’Connor said De Fosto’s body was taken to Belgroves Funeral Home and a funeral date will be decided when his other son Marvin flies in from New York.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Winston Scarborough, better known as The Original De Fosto Himself, died between 9 pm last night and 8 am this morning at his Almond Court home in Morvant.

His son Gabriel, who lived with him, found him motionless in his bed this morning after calling at his door without answer.

Morvant police are at the scene awaiting the district medical officer before his body can be moved.