Calypsonian Toiler laid to rest

Veteran calypsonian Quintyn “Mighty Toiler” was laid to rest yesterday at the Kingstown cemetery, following a funeral at the St George’s Cathedral in Kingstown.{{more}}

Toiler died on December 1, 2012 at his Campden Park home, from uncontrolled hypertension, chronic renal failure, hypertensive heart disease and congestive cardiac arrest, the death certificate said.

He was 73 years old.

The funeral started at 3 p.m. and many people attended, including fellow calypsonians Becket, Ipa, The Mighty Sheller, Vibrating Scakes, Zion I, Abijah, Rastaman I, Lord Summers, Bung Sukharno, Patches, Young Laylee, Azara, Rasta Man I, Jah Burke, and Ras Leo.

Kenneth Alleyne — Vibrating Skakes — delivered the eulogy.

As the hearse left the churchyard, dozens of people followed the procession being led by a truck that blasted some of Toby’s hits, including “Mr Nancy”, all the way to the cemetery.

In 1974, Toby won the calypso and road march titles with his renditions “Me Neighbour” and “De Puppy,” an accomplishment he repeated in 1977 with “Caribbean Community” and “CDC Killing We”.

Other popular songs from the Toiler include “Honour Them” and “The Eighties”.

The calypsonian was also honoured in 2008 with the Sunshine Award in the United States, for his contribution to music in the region.

Five of Toby’s eight children, Karl Fraser, St Clair Jones, Yvette Jones, Eurias Veira and Flora Thorpe, attended the funeral.