Tribute delivered by Rev Daniel Teelucksingh at the funeral service for Dr Jit Samaroo at the Armalaya Presbyterian Church—January 9, 2016
The hills of Laventille missed the late panman Rudolph Charles and asked through David Rudder’s song:
“Where the man with the hammer gone?...
The dragon don’t walk the trail no more.”
Now today, the hills of Lopinot also ask in mournful tones about the passing of Jit Samaroo:
“Where the man from Renegades gone?
Why you up and leave?
Why you make we grieve?
The genius of the tenor pan
don’t walk the trail no more.”
There is an answer to Lopinot and all pan lovers who will miss the master of the panyard: I’ve always heard that there is music and an angelic choir in gloryland. Well, today we say farewell to Jit, this rare, celebrated musical colossus who joins the heavenly orchestra. Only once in a lifetime we meet someone like this. Through his passionate musical eloquence earth dances. Now, our lovable Maestro will play for saints and angels in eternity’s panorama.
From henceforth, music out yonder will be richer as Jit Samaroo, arranger and composer par excellence, joins Rudolph Charles, Bertie Marshall and Winston “Spree” Simon who have taken to higher places the unique symphony of the steelpan with the rhythms and melodies of T&T. Jit and other masters of the art form have left us, but our hills and valleys will always be alive with the sound of their music.
Replies
Beautiful.