LANCELOT LAYNE
PAPA WAS A LOYAL
SON
By Niasha Layne
Express
August 11, 2000
Page 18
As
the nation observes the tenth anniversary of the attempted coup
of Trinidad and Tobago, my family and I commemorate this date for another major
but notable reason.
On
the morning of July 28, 1990 my father Lancelot Layne, passed away. As I look back on the ten years without him
I cannot help but think of the things he has missed, things that would have
delighted him as well as dissatisfied him.
Although he frequently was out of the country he maintained contact with
us from other parts of the world and it as always comforting to know that Daddy
was there in one way or another.
Often
he would come home in the wee hours of the morning straight from the airport,
and quietly head to the back bedroom just for a glimpse of his sleeping twin
girls. He was a proud father, and in
later years accounts from my mother and other friends of his revealed his
protective and gloating nature toward us.
And
this is how he was when it came to his country. Daddy was a very patriotic man, committed to national unity and
passionate about his culture. He let no
chance pass by when it came to rallying around an individual or organisation in
order to build national support for their cause. He constantly worked with school children and village groups in
his efforts to commemorate Emancipation Day and sometimes almost
single-handedly organised these events.
Lancelot
Layne was a phenomenal musician. Many
people remember him best for his song "Strike Squad" which he
composed for our local football team, or "Get off the Radio" and
those particularly in the rapso movement can always recall his famous
"Blow Way". But he was on the
scene long before that.
I
would describe him as starting off as a child prodigy, definitely a virtuoso
and eventually a sensation.
Rising
out of poverty in a Gonzales home with his father and stepmother, Lance was
drawn to veteran musician Joey Lewis who became awed by Lance's ability to
master many instruments without any musical training. From as far back as I can remember Daddy used to sing to us, he
took us to panyards and pan events, indeed music was his life. He was a great composer who possessed
perfect pitch, a gift that my twin sister (Anuska) inherited.
Travels
to other countries brought us face to face with persons that still reminisce
about their encounters with daddy at major Universities and other institutions,
where he lectured on history and did demonstrations on pan. Needless to say it fills us with pride to
hear that he was so highly regarded abroad and that he made such an
impact. His message was heard.
I
often wonder how he would have reacted to the paths rapso and calypso music had
taken and where he would have placed himself in the whole scheme of things.
Indeed
he would have definitely been gratified to see so many young people involved in
the rapso movement and making waves, I think that would have been one of his
hopes fulfilled.
The
high point of his career though, was his trips to Africa as he was very much in
touch with his ancestral roots. He
studied African history and in later years joined the Orisa faith so it was no
surprise that he was content when he was offered the opportunity. When he made his first trip to Africa he had
accomplished his lifelong dream.
I
feel the need to remind the nation about daddy because his spirit should not be
forgotten. His aggressive love and
commitment to Trinidad and Tobago was unending and his contribution immense.
I
remember him most for his tall commanding figure, his marvelous voice, his
beautiful hands, his striking mannerisms and his undying love for his
family. I no longer wake up thinking it
was all a bad dream and he really didn't die, nor do I expect him to walk
through the front door calling our names.
Instead,
I dream of "what ifs" and "maybes" when something
significant happens in our lives and miss the fact that he won't be here to
share those moments, in person that is.
We still miss him as much as when he first left us. Sure the shock has worn off, but every so
often when you're suddenly reminded that this strong, influential and
exceptional person is no longer near enough for you to touch, the loss becomes
new again. Trinidad and Tobago has lost
a true son of the soil and he should not be forgotten.
Niasha Layne is the daughter
of the late Lancelot Layne