George Bailey,

I'll always remember

Jumping when a 'steelband pass

Playing mas

Sugary, peppery George was never ever one for class.

George Bailey, wherever you are, compere,

Just for you

I come out with real fire

This year.

"Memories"

George Aldwin Bailey, who fascinated this country with both his athletic prowess and creative abilities, would have turned 64 today.

Born May 6, 1935, to Aldwyn "Sonny" and Maslyn, Bailey was the first of seven children.

As a student at Tranquillity Government, Bailey ran in the 100, 200 and 400 metres and gave his rival Mike Agostini some trouble in the latter's pre-Olympic years.

Bailey then moved to another sporting discipline - basketball - where he was a member of the Woodbrook Limers, Beavers and the Trinidad and Tobago Basketball Association. He also played with the national team, which included players like Alwyn Hislop, Sydney Best, Hugh Lynch, and the Clark brothers.

Under the watchful eyes of MP Alladin, Bailey learned to draw, paint and sculpt, and within a short space of time became an accomplished artist.

Says his brother Albert, "George was the one to start the first 'Drag Brothers' right there in Buller Street (in Woodbrook). He also worked at the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was in charge of the clerical department of the Casualty Ward. But with George's creative ability, he was transferred to the Culture Ministry in St Ann's."

It's at these offices that Bailey started his mas. As part of Invaders in 1954 and 1955, he went on in 1956 to bring out his first band Timu and the Leopard Kingdom. Then in only his second year of bringing out his own band and just 21, Bailey copped the Band of the Year title with Back to Africa.

Bailey had the strong support of Albert, his other brother Alvin, and close friends. It was known that Bailey designed the costumes, Albert built them and Alvin devised the decorations.

Bailey went on to cop five more Band of the Year titles and achieved the first beaver-trick in mas, a feat that's only been bettered by masman and designer Wayne Berkeley.

Bailey's winning bands were:

The Express contacted a few of his close friends and family to recount their fond memories of Bailey, who was awarded the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) in 1962 for his outstanding contribution to the culture of Trinidad and Tobago.

His sister, Hazel Davis, remembered her brother's personable nature: "I am one of the younger ones in the family, but I remember George always smiling, easygoing, but don't mash his corns."

"Relics of Egypt caused a stir. Some of the main characters in the band suffered afterwards," Elton Clark, one of Bailey's closest friends, said. "There was this type of competition among fellow players as they wanted to outdo each other in their costuming and George would give them what they wanted. George thoroughly researched his portrayals and came as close to the original living thing as was possible.

"I also remembered Dr (Eric) Williams telling some school children if they wanted to know of Egypt, go to Bailey's band. I felt George started breaking the barrier from the traditional costuming to what it is now from 1966."

Brother Albert spoke about their father's involvement in mas production: "Sonny, our father, was involved in mas having his own band from 1932 to 1940, so was our mother. As a printer, Sonny instilled in us the three key elements of production, that is, designing, building and decorating. George was the eldest, so we gave him that respect. He was genius at designing."

Artist Carlisle Chang saluted Bailey's talent for Carnival design. "George was a grand mas man. He was a handsome, young Afro-Trinidadian who people was dying for to reach up there, and he was good.

Standing atop Salvatori (building), looking at one of his portrayals, there was this sea of feathers. Somewhere in New Guinea was the greatest. We couldn't compete with George on the level of costuming. It was very expensive. George represented black pride and so much seemed to have emerged. It was very beautiful to watch. I was quite stunned that he died so young. It definitely left a void in the mas industry."

Rudy Piggott said: "Terry Evelyn's "Beauty in Perpetuity" from George's The Realm of Fancy Bats and Clowns was the greatest costume I've seen. If he didn't reach late for the competition that year, his costume would have won King of Carnival.

In Tears of the Indies, I feel George was sending a message to us that the great Creator was calling him home. That was his last presentation, in 1970."

Another of Bailey's friends, Terry Evelyn, paid tribute to his attention to detail.

"Eric (Williams) introduced us to Best Village for our costuming was more elaborate back then. It was also education for us as we studied deeply and we prepared more archival items. It was a great experience as it was actually theatre for us.

"The last time I spoke to George was the night before his passing. He met me in America after promoting Carnival in Bermuda (along with Cito Velasquez, Harold Saldenah and Stephen Lee Heung) and was on his way back home. He was complaining of the humidity, so Cito told him, 'leh we go back home now', and they left."

It was on August 14, 1970, aboard Pan American flight 229 that Bailey started feeling unwell. As the plane landed at the Seawell Airport in Barbados, he begged to be taken out for fresh air.

Velasquez took his friend to the ramp and there bailey collapsed and died of a heart attack.

A banner leading Bailey's funeral procession read "Gone but not forgotten."

He was 35.

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