OMG Digital Magazine OMG Issue 330 25th October 2018 | Page 41

OMG Digital Magazine | 330 | Thursday 25 October 2018 • PAGE 41
"I could safely say that idolize two artistes in our culture: Black Stalin and The
Mighty Shadow. For me, Shadow was the model image of sound, trend and talent
to always watch. I used to call him Uncle, he called me Nephew. "Poverty Is Hell"
was my favorite song from his catalogue - it was real, it was relevant, it was classic...
a beautiful song. All my career I was hooked on his music; it's what I was grown up
on. When I sang "Carnival Jumbie" in 2011, there was no doubt that the sound and
flow of that song was shaped and inspired after Shadow's unique style. I remember
him coming to congratulate me to tell me to keep up the good work, and that is
an honor and highlight of my career. Uncle was a very loving, warm, approachable
man. He loved 'ole talk', loved jokes and loved being around the people he loved. He
was a brilliant musician, and I want to send condolences to family, friends and the
industry; he served his community, his culture, his country and the Caribbean well.
Let's give our artistes their flowers while they are here. He gave the best of himself
to better our culture, and his music will live on forever."
- Dexter "Blaxx" Stewart, Soca Stalwart
"He's been a permanent fixture in my life for as long as I can remember; my Dad
was Shadow's overseas manager for a short time. I was very young and used to
help sell his record "Way, Way Out" along with Baron's two songs, "Consuela" and
"Gone Gone Gone" in parties - 3 singles for $15. That's how we kept the culture
moving. "Way, Way Out" was my favorite song from him. I have a very distinct
memory of him after performing in Orlando Carnival, with Baron and Crazy playing
cards backstage...there was a camaraderie in that space. He was the most humble,
perfect, natural human being. Shadow had great impact on people without moving
a muscle. He moved an entire world of Soca Culture with his voice. I can't really
consider him just a calypsonian or just a soca artist or just a businessman. He was
everything to the culture, because that generation was under a different pressure
to succeed - they were doing live recordings, so he worked to master his craft from
every possible angle. He was self-taught and self-made, and there was a rawness
and authenticity to his craft that couldn't be manipulated. His death is a huge
blow to the fraternity and I am saddened; he had a special formula that will set the
standard for generations to come."
- Giselle The Wassi One, Entertainer, Mas Band Leader and Global Soca Brand
Ambassador
"I think a lot of Shadow. He is singlehandedly one of the three superstars that I
really looked up to, along with Kitch (Lord Kitchener) and (The Mighty) Sparrow.
When it came to being original, he didn't fight or fear that or who he was. He didn't
have to try to be great; he just was. His manner of speech, his organization of his
quality music and the people he had around him regarding the creating process
were the best. One of Shadow's main producers was Art De Couteau, and I was
subliminally influenced by his work from a very young age, because my mother
(Barbara Crichlow-Shaw, first female executive of PANTrinbago) and grandparents
played Shadow's music daily in our household. As Shadow's primary producer, Mr.
De Couteau took drummology and percussion influences from Cuban and Latin
periods, and immersed them into our cultural patterns. I'm grateful for Shadow's
body of work having a great impact on the way that I approach and appreciate
music, and I send condolences to his family. We have really lost a timeless icon."
- Jelani "Pops" Shaw: Soul Train-nominated and Road March-winning Writer,
Producer and Musician.