GARFIELD BLACKMAN
RAS SHORTY I
JAMOO NO MORE
SHORTY, 59, LOSES
BATTLE
WITH BONE CANCER
By Peter Ray Blood
Entertainment
Editor
Trinidad Guardian
July 13, 2000
Page 1
Ras
Shorty I (Garfield Blackman), one of the acclaimed inventors of
soca music, lost his battle with bone cancer late yesterday.
He
died in the presence of one of his sons, Sheldon Blackman, and a group of
friends and well-wishers at a house on Belmont Circular Road, around 6
p.m. He had been diagnosed with the
disease in early May and had opted at first for herbal treatment, saying he was
trusting in his faith.
Up
to 9 p.m., however, the body was still at the house with those gathered waiting
for the arrival of a District Medical Officer.
In
a career spanning almost three decades, Shorty, 59, produced a long string of
hits.
These
included the signal composition "Endless Vibrations," which is said
to have marked the beginning of soca, and a turning point in local music.
With
"Indrani,' and the controversial "Om Shanti," Shorty began a trend
setting experiment with East Indian rhythms, that also brought him increased
international recognition.
A
cover version of "Om Shanti" became a major hit in India.
Having
created a revolution in calypso through the '70s and '80s, Shorty made a dramatic
switch in his life, from being a debonair sex symbol to being a self-confessed,
born-again Christian.
In
1977, he shed his streamlined body suits, designer leather shoes, and long
cigarette holders for dreadlocks, togas and sandals.
Ras
Shorty I was christened into his new faith in 1980, and moved to Piparo with
his wife Claudette and the 14 children they had together. He is said to have had other children.
The
new Shorty was reflected in his compositions as he produced hit after hit in
the genre of his new rhythm, which he christened Jamoo, around 1981. This new music spawned the critically
acclaimed "Watch Out My Children," a chart-topper against the evils
of substance abuse, which was translated in at least 10 languages and
distributed worldwide.
The
first indication that something was seriously wrong with Shorty came in April,
at the launch of two of his CDs, titled Jamoo Victory and Children of
the Jamoo Journey. While
performing he broke a bone in his hand, which failed to heal.
When
the initial diagnosis was made on Shorty, he expressed his unswerving faith in
Jesus Christ, stating he had left his fate in the hands of God. Shorty was also receiving herbal treatment
from Haitian-born Dr. Robert Rozefort.
During
this period, Shorty told the Guardian: "I am still going along with the
herbal treatment. I have confidence in
my God. Without Jesus in my life, herbs
or chemotherapy would not make a difference."
As
Shorty's illness became more grave, and he was warded at the Langmore
Foundation and Southern Specialist Centre in South Trinidad, he issued a plea
for financial assistance, and increased airplay for his music.
He
also urged President Arthur N R Robinson, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday,
Opposition Leader Patrick Manning and the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians
Organisation (TUCO) to help him while he was alive, and not wait until his
death to reward him for his contribution to culture, and to pay homage to him.
At
the beginning of June, the Ras Shorty I Appeal Fund was set up at Republic Bank. With a target set at $200,000, a gospel
concert at Spektakula Forum only generated $18,000 in pledges for the ailing
calypsonian, with a further $9,000 coming from a radiothon.
Simultaneously,
under the ministry of Social development's National achievers Fund, an initial payment
of $11,150 was made to Shorty's family, with the promise of a monthly payment
of $2,500 until December.
Previously
diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the actual nature of Shorty's illness became a
mystery when attending physician Dr. Ramesh Matura disclosed he was not suffering
from this particular strain of cancer.
Ras
Shorty I leaves to mourn his wife Claudette and several children, including
Garfield Jnr, Abbi, Gary, Sheldon and Nihilet.