The funeral service for the musical giant that was Leroy ‘Black Stalin’ Calliste has been set for next Thursday, January 5th at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando.
A committee has been set up to oversee Stalin’s funeral, consisting of San Fernando mayor Junia Regrello, NCC chairman Winston “Gypsy” Peters, Ian Small – Stalin’s former manager, and Dawad Phillip, former advisor to Peters when the latter held the post of Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism.
They will all be in collaboration with Black Stalin’s wife, Patsy, and family members.
Reports state that a number of activities are being planned by the committee, among them a musical tribute, a street procession and a public viewing of the body at the Southern Academy of the Performing Arts (SAPA).
The body, which will be placed in a carriage, will lead a street procession comprising Moko Jumbies and a music truck from Guide’s Funeral Home on Coffee Street, San Fernando to the Naparima Bowl for the service.
Regrello said on Friday that the city will host a musical tribute for the public, featuring some of Black Stalin’s colleagues at Harris Promenade on Tuesday at 6 pm.
A public viewing of the body will be held at SAPA on Wednesday.
Regrello, in an interview with the Newsday, said for logistical reasons, SAPA was not considered for the funeral.
He said: “With school being reopened next week and so many schools in the vicinity of Todd Street, it would be a traffic nightmare to have the funeral procession move from SAPA to Paradise Cemetery, which will be his final resting place.
“The Bowl is closer to the cemetery and it is also historic in that the first time he qualified for the (calypso) semi-finals, he would have made his debut at the bowl,” Regrello said.
Stalin died on Wednesday at the age of 81.
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