Chanting the ‘Get Through’ Cause

The Calypso community has joined forces with the Carnival committee and media to stage an unprecedented fundraiser event to aid ailing calypsonian Cyril ‘Get Through’ Felix, a member of the Take Over Tent. “We at TOT could not sit back and allow him to remain in a position where he could not have aided himself. So, with the brainchild of our founding member Truscott Augustin, we found ourselves rallying and producing this benefit show. Out of this activity we are evolving into the welfare fund,” TOT Tent Manager Cecile Charles clarified, as he addressed the media conference announcing the fundraiser event.

Carnival committee director Teddy Francis, who was also present, highlighted, “The illness of Cyril ‘Get Through’ Felix has spawned a number of initiatives and has made persons aware of the need to fill a number of objectives. Primarily our focus is to render assistance to a pioneer who pursued a difficult and challenging path and is renowned for his skills when words like sponsorship were alien to the art form. He brought forth a new wave whereby he encouraged young persons, particularly from the inner city and the urban centre in Saint Lucia, to enter the Calypso field.”

Get Through is said to be the trailblazer for the Rastafarian community’s participation in the Calypso arena during an era when reggae music dominated the socio-religious group.

Francis emphasised that the musical diversity that Get Through initiated is a significant achievement that has not gone unnoticed.

The fundraiser event will be staged in the form of a benefit concert similar to the recent Leeboration.

The Carnival director also noted his anticipation for the artistes representing themselves, having considered the demise of the Calypso Association in recent years. “Events like these will work wellto foster the esprit de corps and get them to work in unison to achieve amalgamation, representing themselves as was done a couple of decades ago in the very vibrant Calypso Association,” he commented.

The benefit concert dubbed ‘Chanting for Get Through’ is scheduled for Wednesday October 12 at the National Cultural Centre. An after-work lime will be followed by the Festival Band ushering in the grand concert at which all artistes will render pro bono performances. The public’s fullest support is solicited and persons wishing to assist can contribute via Bank of Saint Lucia, account # 141115406, Account Holder: Truscott Augustin.