Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The steelband fraternity lost another one of its stalwarts in Alfred ‘Sacks’ Mayers who passed away on Saturday October 22, at the age 82. According to a release from Pan Trinbago it stated that ‘Sacks” was a bamboo to pan veteran and was the first person to play a triple second tuned by Lincoln Delgardo Noel. It was also stated that the panman is credited with leading the first steelband to Guyana in the late 40’s.
“Sacks” was the leader of the Red Army Steelband in the late forties and together with Rudy “Two Left” Smith, later gave birth to the Merry Makers Steel band, one of the pioneer bands to perform in Switzerland and Sweden in the sixties and seventies. He eventually started Pandigenous and remained playing with bands up to the time of his passing. His pan playing skills saw him visiting many countries including Argentina, and locally, his musical talents took him throughout the length and breadth of the country...
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My Condolences to the Family of my Mentor and friend,RIP Sacks.
Condolences to the friends and family of Mr Mayers.
Merry Makers in Sweden 1980: (l-r): Me, Lawrence "Eager" Mayers, Stanley Centeno, Allan Serette, Gilbert Williams, Jim St Rose, David Maundy, Sylvan Salandy, Alfred Sack Myers (on Tripple Tenor), Trevor Kidd...
Farewell Skip...
In May-June 1980 (or thereabouts) I left Trinidad on my first Steelband Tour to Sweden as a member of the Merry Makers. The group was led by Sack Myers and comprised of nine members of Merry Tones and other close friends of Sack including Rudy Two Lef Smith and Trevor Kidd, who we met in Sweden where they were at the time domiciled. Sack was the consumate Steelband Leader...no big fuss...no set ah ole talk...well plenty s..t talk yes...plenty fatigue...but as I remember, he was always in charge...with a massive smile on his face when performing...
Rest well Skip...You will be sorely missed...