Ins & Outs of St. Vincent and the Grenadines - 2023

18 ALSTONBECKETCYRUS Alston BECKET Cyrus, is known to many Vincentians here and abroad as well as the wider Caribbean as “the ABC of Calypso”. The stellar career of this prolific song writer and charismatic performer spans nearly fifty years. Widely regarded as a man of honour and honesty, Becket is both humble and grounded in his community. He often says, “Talent is wonderful, a blessing; but it requires discipline to become successful.” His character is reflected in the choice of his stage-name, Becket. Cyrus saw a movie about Thomas Becket, Henry II’s Archbishop of Canterbury in England in the 12th century, and was impressed by him standing up for what he believed in. Cyrus said, ‘Thomas Becket was a man of principle - right over wrong’. Identifying with this, he chose Becket as his stage name. Born in the seaside town of Layou on the Leeward side of St. Vincent, the young Becket grew up with music all around him. Although his father was absent from his life, his uncles formed father figures and it was through them that he developed an interest in music. He began playing steelpan and later learned to play the guitar which he uses to do most of his compositions. “I tell young people, if you’re going to get into music learn to play an instrument, learn to readmusic.” He started in the teaching profession as a teenager and that grounding remains in his music – it teaches while it entertains. Becket moved to the United States of America three months before his twentieth birthday. He was required to do several jobs to get by so music had to take a back seat. After he joined the US Army, he was able to get back to the love of his life, music, and in particular, Calypso. Becket performed in the successful US Soldier’s Tour-Hawaii 1972-1974. In his first big hit he chronicles his return to music: “Alston a GI in Hawaii / Ah had to teach them / Carnival History”. Following an honourable discharge from the Army in 1975, his career in music began. He performed in New York with veteran Vincentian Calypsonian Lord Hawke who was impressed and invited Becket to return home and join his Calypso tent in St Vincent. He entered the local Calypso competition and won – taking the country by storm with songs such as ‘Carnival History’ and ‘Mas’ at Victoria’. His early performances and touring were with Asterisks, a local band, from his hometown Layou. He quickly went on to record his first album, ‘Raw Calypso’, in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1977 he had further success with the hit song ‘Coming High’, followed by equally successful singles like ‘Wine Down Kingstown’ (1978), ‘Teaser’ and ‘Gal Ah Rush Me’ (1990) and ‘Small Pin’ (1999). In 1991 he received the Record of the Year and Best Alston Becket Cyrus: ANational Treasure

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