When Steel Talks extends condolences to the family friends of veteran radio broadcaster, and ardent lover and supporter of the steelband culture and art form, Holly Thomas.
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Condolences to the family and friends of the late Mr. Holly Thomas, on behalf of Despers USA and Desperadoes Steel Orchestras. I first heard the voice of Mr. Thomas on the radio in Brooklyn in 1975 and I said at the time, this man has a voice. We all listened to his broadcast, and on one Saturday afternoon in 1977, he sent out a hats off to Despers USA and Moods Pan Groove on their performance at a Pan Jam the Friday night prior.
In 2012, I met Mr. Thomas at Desperadoes/Cadiz Road carnival rehearsal yard, where he complimented me on my first Pan Book.
As a Broadcaster myself @ 105 at the time I had the privileged of doing Carnival Coverage with Holly at many a Carnival from Down town on carnival days from Jour overt to Las Lap We also did Carnival coverage from 105 bus on Carnival Tuesday on occasion Even Bomb Competition s it was always a Joy. In more recent time we collaborated in auditioning female prisoners for training "for prison radio" I had great Respect for Holly. May he rest in Peace
It is a sad day for me in reading that my friend "Hook" is gone. I left Trinidad in the early sixties for New York where I still live. I now reside in Manhattan. I've known him when he sold life insurance in Trinidad, We once did a "Beatnik Party" at his home. He came to my home when he first arrived in New York in the late sixties. I ran into him a few times and I remembered him telling me "My mission is to spread our culture here in New York". He did just that. I didn't see him again until 1971. I learned he had return to Trinidad. The "Hook" as he was fondly called by a few who knew "back in the day" He will be surely be missed. May he Rest in Peace. Thanks to this website I was informed of my friend's passing.
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Condolences to the family and friends of the late Mr. Holly Thomas, on behalf of Despers USA and Desperadoes Steel Orchestras. I first heard the voice of Mr. Thomas on the radio in Brooklyn in 1975 and I said at the time, this man has a voice. We all listened to his broadcast, and on one Saturday afternoon in 1977, he sent out a hats off to Despers USA and Moods Pan Groove on their performance at a Pan Jam the Friday night prior.
In 2012, I met Mr. Thomas at Desperadoes/Cadiz Road carnival rehearsal yard, where he complimented me on my first Pan Book.
RIP Mr. Holly Thomas.
As a Broadcaster myself @ 105 at the time I had the privileged of doing Carnival Coverage with Holly at many a Carnival from Down town on carnival days from Jour overt to Las Lap We also did Carnival coverage from 105 bus on Carnival Tuesday on occasion Even Bomb Competition s it was always a Joy. In more recent time we collaborated in auditioning female prisoners for training "for prison radio" I had great Respect for Holly. May he rest in Peace
The man with the voice. May he rest in peace.
It is a sad day for me in reading that my friend "Hook" is gone. I left Trinidad in the early sixties for New York where I still live. I now reside in Manhattan. I've known him when he sold life insurance in Trinidad, We once did a "Beatnik Party" at his home. He came to my home when he first arrived in New York in the late sixties. I ran into him a few times and I remembered him telling me "My mission is to spread our culture here in New York". He did just that. I didn't see him again until 1971. I learned he had return to Trinidad. The "Hook" as he was fondly called by a few who knew "back in the day" He will be surely be missed. May he Rest in Peace. Thanks to this website I was informed of my friend's passing.
Winston "Bop" Taylor
Holly Thomas a fine broadcaster,with great pipes as they say in our business.
Before moving back to Trinidad and Tobago and joining the Trinidad Broadcasting Network
730 Radio Trinidad and Tempo 105 FM he was one of pioneering broadcasters in New York
promoting and exposing the music of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. A fine tribute was
paid to him in song by the Calypso King of the World The Mighty Sparrow..and you can't ask for anything
better than that. He was a true broadcaster perfect diction which is lacking today with many of the so
called announcers .he tried to right that wrong by having his own announcing institute.May he rest in
peace my condolences to his family close friends and associates at the TBC Network
It was a pleasure knowing him and working with him on Radio Trinidad 730 AM during the carnival
periods. We have lost a booming voice.
Jai Ojah-Maharaj
Broadcaster/ Toronto Canada.