Thank You Dear Friends,
In response to 'Down Memory Lane'
(Click Link Down Memory Link to view).
The" best "Friends Forever" - together with my formidable Bros Joseph John Agnelo Pinto, Joseph de Lord and of course my husband Joseph John Bosco known only by his last and for his Dimu and Kungu distribution services. Here his children the Medical Professionals and Community Builders ... knew him for so many other reasons.
WE are now " retired persons" who made a Home in a new place since the New Millennium to be part of a world never known to us before "GRANDPARENTS Anonymous" The G A's with no G I in sight.
Yes, I now am willing and able to zero in "Google earth" on that one Vocal Local Focal Point that one tiny 'spot" on earth familiar to all of the "boys and girls " of SJCSZAN in the 1950 51 School Photo and I
Mervyn, Adolph Benito and myself-now can zero in on that Vocal Local Focal Point of Light sound dramatic arts THE GOAN INSTITUTE- 1940-64 and to date - T AN ZAN and St Joe Dar Es Salaam?
I only recently came to realize The Group ZANGO ans (ZANDO) like Chicago ans are a God given. God gifted; God graced Community Organization as seen in that group of Photos Posted Yesterday ...
I knew most of those faces particularly the "Older Folk" - so much younger then than I am now at 80.
I did not know the names of many of the tunes played by Stardust but recognise them to this day and familiar part of my Teenage Soul. My Mom loved Classical music, but she also played "Syncopated" Jazz from Book entitled Lee Simm Jazz. She has in her family formidable piano players. There is Picture of her with Dad and an Infant marked as Elaine, but it says "Vuga House" they are seated by a piano, and I think it must be me, since Elaine was born in Pemba. That House was for the Ex-Pat’s - overlooked the Victoria Gardens right opposite the Goan Institute. Later we came to live in Vuga, and Mom bought the first Piano I would learn to play on, so did Marookh Bulsara, Loreta De Lord and Daphne’s daughter of a Dr …. yes, I am now forgetting names, Marookh’s class or age. Joe Pinto was born in 1951 weeks after the piano came to us from some departing Police Officer who had brought it from the UK. It was sentimental and precious to me, so we shipped it to Our Home in New Hampshire 1974 As in Zanzibar it kept popping strings as it was never "tropicalized" or made for the Frozen North. UK alone but I loved it and sold it reluctantly in 1978.
Bosco (with his dimu kungu business sense) refused to keep it as a place to keep mementos!! like a sideboard It is now considered a "sign" of serious mental social emotional Distress/disorder (hoarder "unable to let go of the Past" etc etc) unless you are Royal Noble etc …. those beloved folks are allowed to keep things for Centuries in their various palaces and castles.
I got $75 for that much loved Mini Royal Pianoforte, and I bought for $100 a good Briggs Boston Made Piano a local musician was selling as he was moving - I now have it and all my children and grandchildren do their thing bang on it in some way and …. when they choose to .... and yes, my mom visited me ONCE and was able to bless it with her playing on it. NH, we have moved twice since her visit and the Piano came with me.
It is in the Home of Dr De Souza across from "Mrs Chief" I have often referred to that daily Musical Extravaganza that went on a Cacophony of Sound .... I came of age as they say in Legal Lingo, with all those amazing graces and changes given to us in Vuga -(including getting a few real glass marbles from playing with you and the group gathered outside your home and in Victoria Gardens..) It transformed me into the young woman who took off and away from the Status Quo. as Daughter of My Fathers Goan Heritage
Mohamed Lodi Pictures today brings it all back acutely and cutely too.
Thank You Mohamed. Thank you for posting
I do believe my fame name shame blame game if any will be in the MUSIC appreciation - dept.
My three children are a local legend here, but I was a close friend of dear George Fernandes who did play that "Box Bass" at our College Picnics. I did not know it was Lawrence idea or that George was with Stardust.
I was in a College Jazz Club with George, Peter Nazareth, John Agard from Caribbean, Richard Owino later a Prof of Geography Nairobi U I was a 'support" did not really play anything - attended a few rehearsals more like a Mascot in American Football.
Selina Coelho Kampala was later The Vocalist.
Together we got to see, hear, and talk to a young Louis Armstrong when he came to Makerere...
My Friends did try they best to "make something of me" … but I would not be made .... in those days more pliable now.
As for Lawrence he was Classmate of my sister Elaine she talked of him Ariasto Adolph BRO She like me both over 80 is challenged when pressed for detail, but some memories stand out.
I was at the wedding of the son of Lawrence/Annette in Chicago to the daughter of a Very Close friend of Bosco from their days in Medical School in Ireland Thanks to SJCSZAN Fr Reidy! Chico Vas is a Noted Global Goan from Bombay Held a Festival of Life at his Ethics Centre there Mother Teresa was a speaker and he asked me to come. It was the 1990's I two little sons to attend to!
Chicago is where and when I said to Hello and Goodbye to Jonita in her hometown. She and Bob drove us to one wedding event and held another in their home.
That was a Bonding moment in time.
George!
I met him couple of times. First at Tan Zanite ZANDO 1992 Toronto- then couple of times when I was passing through at the Airport to or from Vancouver. Couple of times with Bosco at dinner in Chicago - where we were for some event. We corresponded for those years. He wrote in a carefully beautiful script. I have a collection I scribbled off a reply immediately - Boom! as soon as he wrote. It always knocked him over. No one can correct that trait/fault I have.
When we were there for Gonsalves Vas wedding, George invited Bosco and I to spend an afternoon with him at a memorable park on the shores of the Mighty Great Lake He died six months later March 6 same week as My sister-in-law Zita Cardozo March 4 and my Cousin Orlando Menezes March 8.
Mercifully gratefully we have each other still - Jonita too, in our Present-Day wonder. glory ever deepening mystifying mystery which brings me to ELVIS!
Glad you made it to where you are now with that Song from Elvis.
Peter Nazareth (Goan Entebbe Uganda Makere and IOWA writing school and Professor Iowa U) gave me a Book in 2001 by Gene SMITH written by the First cousin as close as a brother Elvis. A family story Peter had written the Foreword and autographed it with the words. "To Hazel who always Loved Elvis" Wow!
1958-64 was a time when "conservative" Men like my dad were between amazed and horrified as to who or what was "Elvis"
I would have my ear to the Large Boom Box radio listening for Friday Forces Favourites. from Nairobi for the Royal Air Force.!
Like you Benito, and every other Singer Musician, Elvis as a child and teen had to fight the good fight with parents and Local Yokels to be himself- to be able to SING his SOUL out to the world to give up what stood in the way to sacrifice. and act on advice from Parents for a time No drink? No smoke? To risk being called a "sissy" girlie "not a real man"? That KING of the Rock - Rolls with the punches, and now has Graceland Memphis Tennessee USA drawing the curious the furious and whoever feels he Transformed what cannot be seen or figured out anyway. Music is beyond our control, Non-verbal communication
Cable and Wireless Radio now gives us Cyber space, "eye in sky" Video from the Proverbial "CLOUD NINE" in 7th Heaven!
You did it and with Betty by your side or in your Sight all these years far from the Zanzibar G.I.
God Bless You all always
Hazel
Dec 8 10 am East Coast America time
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DOWN MEMORY LANE Alwyn Mendes
Dear Madhu, Alwyn, JO, Juliet, Dr. Gregory Fernandes, Malcolm Pereira & All
Alwyn Mende's Musical Experience Zanzibar
Re: Down Memory Lane written by Dr Gregory Fernandes sometime in 2005
Thanks for sharing this lovely musical post copied below. I greatly enjoyed reading, that had me in stitches with some of Alwyn's musical experience producing a young band that certainly entertained in Zanzibar. At first I wondered why I missed out being part of the team, only to conclude I was much older and did not fit in with the young ones! At second thought I realised all the action took place after I left Zanzibar in April 1964.
Wonderful to see how Alwyn progressed in Toronto with his great function band where I was privileged to join at some functions when I visited Toronto Canada to include SJCSZ Reunion 2005.
P.S. I have attached a few band photos and a brief response to a couple of Alwyn's quotes, as it seems many folks enjoy reading about some of our fun experiences in Zanzibar, as such here is my 5p brief addition to music in Zanzibar prior to 1964.
Benny's fun experience with music. Hope my post does not bore you but as it seems, many like to hear about our lives on Paradise Island, I have rattled away a bit on music.
Best regards - Benito
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BENITO'S MUSICAL EXPERIENCE IN ZANZIBAR - Main Man - Albert Mendes
Whilst enjoying our wonderful time in the Scouts 11th Patrol, our scout masters Mr. Martin, Scouter Laurie and Scoutmaster Colin Bocarro organised an open-air concert at Old Forte and I was asked to sing a song besides being part of the gymnastics team.
The song chosen was "Blue Sued Shoes" selected by Colin who had Elvis LP record and as such I had to go to Betty's home to learn the song. Of course no complaints as you would guess, as you know going out with a pretty girl did not come easy during our school days.
Result: I was told I belted out Elvis which was a success and the following day Band Leader Eustace Pereira came over to our home asking my dad if I could join his band STARDUST. At first my dad said NO, I will not give you the reason, but I pleaded with my dad promising if I was allowed to join the band and also allowed to do Spearfishing (underwater diving), I promised I would never drink nor smoke. Between the two evils I was allowed to do both and all my friends will confirm, I never took up drinking nor smoking whilst in Zanzibar, in fact to this date I ha ve never ever even tried a cigarette.
STARDUST LINE-UP: Function Dance Band & NOT a Jazz band as quoted.
Eustace Pereira/Tenor Sax - Band Leader
Tony( Nick) Fernandes: Pianist
Lawrence Gonsalves: 1st Homemade Double Bass/Trumpet.
It was Lawrence who invented the Tea Chest Double Bass which was very successful and used by many other musicians for unlimited years.
Albert Mendes: Drummer.
George Fernandes: Guitar.
Benito De Souza: Vocalist.
HERE WE GO: STARDUST BAND MEMBERS MUSICIANS
Q1. Albert's complains within the band members. 1st he said it was not fair for Benny to leave the stage and go on the dance floor dancing with all those pretty girls, whilst he had to be playing right through and could not have a dance with the girl he fancied.
A1. The answer was simple. Benny only did some singing and whilst the band played all those famous instrumentals keeping the dance floor packed, idle Benny would join in the dancing. Band Leader Eustace never objected.
Benny enjoyed the last dance all guys looked forward - 'Save the last dance for me'.
Benny never had to sing the last song of the evening. How lucky!!
This answers Alwyn's question how Benny managed to combine playing in a band and enjoy dancing at the same time. Bottom Line: Benny was not a musician and did not play an instrument and as such the Band Leader did not object to Benito dancing.!!! ha ha sorry Albert.
Q2. Albert suggested Benny should play his guitar as a rhythm player. With a little practice Eustace and Tony Nick had me playing my guitar besides singing.
A2. Adding my guitar playing to my singing became a handicap which meant I could not leave the band stand and enjoy a few dances. I preferred dancing than playing so I had to find a solution.
Whilst playing I would break a guitar string which meant no guitar playing and back to some dancing. This did not last too long because Albert was too clever for me. He would bring with him at the gigs a full set of guitar strings. Benny here are spare strings!!! (I only wished I never played the guitar).
Below are some band photographs.
Playboy Albert Mendes on Drums with 'Stardust'
Albert's biggest let down being a drummer, he could not leave the
band stage and have a dance.
Sorry Albert your girl is in someone's else's arms!!!
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Band Leader Eustace Pereira/Tenor Sax - Benito Vocals.jpeg)
"His musical inclinations led him to form a band –The Stardusters – with six other friends: the band leader was Eustace Pereira, who played the saxophone (and later became his brother-in-law), Albert Mendes who was quite proficient on drums, Tony (Nick) Fernandes, who played excellent piano by ear, Titus Remedios played great Clarinet, Lawrence Gonsalves played homemade double bass, Benito DeSouza, vocalist, and George Fernandes, also on guitar.
Lawrence played his homemade double bass, which consisted of a “Tea chest” (wooden box used for shipping tea from the uplands in Kenya), a single strong gut line, and a broom handle. The gut was connected to the top of the handle on one end and the middle of the tea chest at the other end. Changing the length of the gut, by clasping it against the handle at various spots, and pulling on the string would produce different bass notes, in which the chest resonated. As the band became more successful, they were able to afford a REAL double base. Lawrence became more proficient on his trumpet and played it more regularly; George took over the double bass."
Goan Institute Social Function - Stardust
Was it a Jive or Rock n' Roll - Tutti Frutti
(Memories are made of this)
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Hand Jive - 'The Girl Can't Help It (Karimjee Club)
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Cable & Wireless Band
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ALBERT MENDES & BENITO IN THE U.K.
First Band - 'The Friends' followed by 'The Outsiders'
In 1964 Alexander Fernandes, the late John Braganza & Hugh Dias & myself lived in one lovely block of flats in Earls Court, each our own self contained pad, where I started my first band in the U.K.
Albert Mendes lived in Hammersmith.
Allan Rooke Lead Guitarist, Denzyl Sequeira Rhythm Guitar, both from Mombasa, Albert on Drums, Alan from Malaysia on Bass guitar and Benny vocals.
We were quite popular entertaining in small social clubs. At the time coming fresh from the U.K. we did not have our own cars, so had to hire a Taxi to get to our gigs.
At the end of a gig after paying the taxi fares we each would take home £2.50 at the time half a crown.
Albert's Experience. One Saturday after our gig, Albert was the last to be dropped home, and when he paid the taxi driver, the driver asked Albert how about my tip. Albert politely replied I do not have any extra money for tips.
The taxi driver told Albert, this is the last time I will be driving you
'BLACK BEATLES' again.
Below for those who remember Dr. Barton & his wife Lobo.
Dr. Barton singing with Benny 'Melody d' Amour' at the Medical University.
We later played for Dr. Barton's daughters wedding.
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Hi Ben,
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