Calypsonians pay tribute to Jus Come
Published:
Monday, April 15, 2013
Calypsonian and spiritual elder John Howell Walcott fondly known as Jus Come.
Wheelchair-bound widow Maureen Walcott, fondly known as Lady Irie, wept as a small crowd of mourners streamed past at the funeral service of her spouse—calypsonian and spiritual elder—John Howell Walcott (Jus Come). They stopped to offer condolences and words of comfort to Walcott at St Francis Spiritual Baptist Church, Huggins Street, Tacarigua, on Friday.
Among those who had gathered to pay their respects were Tuco president Lutalo Masimba, calypsonians Ann Marie Parks-Kojo (Twiggy) and Wilfred Barker, 75, (King Creole). They were joined by his children Steve and Marcia and officiating Bishop Mervyn Bescilio. During his remarks, Masimba said: “In calypso, we tend to judge a book by how many crowns somebody won. We put a rank to it. But if it wasn’t for the foot soldiers like Jus Come, the men who held it together like glue, I wonder how many crowns others could have won.
We give honour and glory to the foot soldiers like Jus Come.” Masimba added: “He made the music. He wrote the songs that were sung by the singers. People did not even know they were singing his songs. It is God who gave singers the music. We celebrate him as a calypsonian. By calypso our stories are told.”
Among his repertoire was Cut The Bush sung by New York-based Dr Picou and arranged by Mt Lambert-based Sir Leston Paul. Walcott won the Roxborough, Tobago, monarch title in 1982. Bescilio said: “I always made sure he had cigarette. And a little change. We were tight.” Turning to Walcott, he said “Be strong.”
RIP bro you came make your contribution and left silently .
