Music fraternity well represented at producer Synmoie’s farewell service
THE number of entertainers in attendance at Chester Synmoie’s farewell service, belied the low profile he maintained during his lifetime.
The thanksgiving fellowship at the Heroes Circle Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday, was filled with family members, friends and well-wishers as well as prominent members of the entertainment fraternity including performers, some of whom paid their tributes with musical items.
Among the noted entertainers who bid farewell in songs to the record producer who died at a airport while on a tour in Brazil recently, were Ken Boothe, Strangejah Cole, Bongo Herman, Bunny Brown and Ronny Davis. But present also were lifelong friends Lone Ranger, Trinity and Carl Dawkins.
With fitting renditions, they all touched the right chord musically. These included Ken Boothe’s Go Tell It On The Mountain, Bunny Brown’s A Change Gonna Come and Bongo Herman’s drumming away on O God, Our Help In Ages Past and Fly Away Home.
But, what could be seen as an interesting paralel was Ronnie Davis’ homage to his departed friend and colleague singing the Los Pop Tops’ searching anthem of 43 years ago, Oh Lord, Why Lord.
Los Pop Tops Band was formed in 1967 in Madrid, Spain with the Trinidadian-born lead singer Phil Trim. Their first release to gain attention was Oh Lord, Why Lord in 1968. That single’s b-side, The Voice Of The Dying Man was recorded in Spanish as La Voz del Hombre Caido.
In tribute to their beloved father, his oldest daughter, Wallette gave a sign-language presentation of Psalm 27, while her younger sibling Juniel, in her reflection, as if in keeping with the extremely rare circumstances of his passing, spoke in both Spanish and English.
“My God, today is the day I say goodbye to my father. I still can’t believe it but it is like it is, he is dead. The most important thing I remember about him is his sense of humour. He was a merrymaker, a person that gave joy to those around him. He was full of life with a smile that could light up a room.
“Whenever I saw him he always had some plastic bags, I don’t know why but together we would laugh about it. He had a love for music, a passion that I hope will live on in me.
“From the depths of my soul I cry. Your death is a stab of my pain to my heart. I love you Dad. I will always carry your name ‘Synmoie’ with pride. your memory exists in me, your daughter, Juniel.”
