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Jan 15, 2017 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
On Thursday evening I attended the 9th day of the birth of Abena Rockcliffe’s little baby boy. Abena is one of the live wires of Kaieteur News journalistic staff. I am still at a loss to find out how crazy Abena (though less crazy than I am) could birth one of the cutest babies you could ever see. He lay still in his bed and when Sharmain Grainger and I went to his crib, he started to move all over his bed and actually attempted to talk to me. The conclusion of Sharmain was that he likes me. Well if he likes me and his mother is a journalist, I guess a future in journalism awaits him.
I didn’t see “Cloones” because I was in the house talking to Abena. As I stepped outside, “Cloones” greeted me. His real name is Desmond, but we called him ‘Cloones” in Wortmanville where we grew up. In our days in the sixties, the nickname “cloones” meant you were a bit of a turkey, a bit of a stupid person, you were a “packoo.” I doubt whether the present generation uses that word anymore. It is gone from the subculture of Georgetown. I cannot recall anyone the past 20 years in Georgetown telling another person, “man you’re a cloones.” I guess “packoo” has gone out too. When you were called a “packoo” it meant you were really stupid.
Cloones and I were childhood friends in Wortmanville. In those days his constant companion was a guitar, mine was a book. We went our separate ways as we grew older into teenagehood. If you knew Desmond from those days, you just knew that one day this guy would turn out to be a superb singer. He became just that. He came and sat next to me and Sharmain Grainger and did what he always does when we meet up and other people are around. He would tell them I always had a big mouth. He said those exact words to Sharmain. Cloones and Eze Rockcliffe, of Yoruba Singers fame, are close friends
Cloones went inside and came out with a CD. He gave it to me and said it was his latest commercial recording. The tracks are – Shine On; Skyline Pigeon; I Started a Joke; Straight from the Heart; Waiting in Vain; Hotel California; No Woman No Cry; Knocking on Heaven’s Door; Black Orpheus, Pouty Pourri; Have you ever seen the Rain; Crocodile Rock. As you can see from these cuts, Desmond did not lose his connection with soft rock that we enjoyed in the seventies in Wortmanville.
What I am about to write I guess will bring disagreement, but I am voicing my opinion and I am no dunce when it comes to judging singing. Cloones is one of the best singers the Caribbean has produced. I am not going to match him with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff. But I am certainly going to compare him with other Jamaican greats like John Jones, Garnett Silk, Boris Garner, among others.
As to our own Eddie Hooper and Johnny Braff; yes I will rate him with them. The album is titled “Para Amar Demas.” Cloones sings under the name Peter Atherly. I am suggesting that you listen to this guy on this CD. This fellow can sing. This recording is the voice of a good singer. I would say his voice is a cross between Michael McDonald and Barry White.
During the celebration, the MC announced the number of a car that was blocking someone’s driveway. The complainant came in to make the request. About half an hour after that announcement, Deputy Editor, Nigel McKenzie and I were going to our cars and that vehicle was still there. Another announcement was made. This gentleman, an official of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, told Nigel and me that as a Jehovah Witness, he has to display patience. It turned out that the car did not belong to the party. A stranger went and parked in front of the man’s gate.
How could any human be so insensitive? How could a person just park a vehicle in another person’s driveway and just ignore the rights of that citizen? This is what we have come to in this country. I have seen types of driving in Guyana that would not be tolerated in almost every other country. We have become a nation without conscience and humanity.
It was a wonderful celebration at Abena’s house in honour of a sweet little baby. I wonder if Abena was as sweet as that when she was a baby.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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