-((**i hope im not boring you readers..this part of the story is very

close to my heart..some of you may not know who JACKIE OPEL was . i,

personally didn.t know him either/.but having talk to a number of

Jamaicans over the years,i have come to the realization how important

this man was to the caribbean and its music**))-. (**so please bear with

me**)



Jackie Opel came back to Barbados armed with new music in his head.a

new beat in his heart.new dances for the masses,but once he landed there

he was despised from the beginning.Barbados had not let go of its

class structure.**The Merrymen were their real heros,they didn't need

any wayward boy from Martinsdale Road or where ever he from, coming back

to show them anything.** so they stiffled his talent. the more Jackie

gave,the less they preserve of his memory..they didn't even try to save

him from his own destruction.just liked his friend in Jamaica..DON

DRUMMOND. these two geniuses..possessed by the same demons. after all

the promises of money(broken copyrights).he had to deal with the scorn.

the hurt by his people.

*** ((let me say here.i do not mean every barbadian.some did apppreciate

his talent,but generally people didn.t like him))**



This hurted him more than anything. while he lived in Jamaica,as least

he was a stranger there...even if he help the Wailers harmonize under

the big tree in kingston...even if he and Roland Alphonso was really

the driving force behind some of the best ska music which came out on

Beverly Record label...even if he was really the star of all the shows

by the skattalites..he dropped legs(danced) better then anyone there..

even if someone could match him some nights..he still possessed a SIX

octave voice. even if he wrote so many of those hits from the

60.s..there in Jamaica he was still a **bajan bwoy**. he could deal with

their insults. he replied in song:: I AM WHAT I AM ..& TAKE YOUR

TIME. ...

even if....

Back here amongst his people all he wanted was some recognition.so he

created a beat called SPOUGE. he realize it was experimental and needed

refining. he sang YOU ARE NO GOOD./.ETERNAL LOVE/YOU GOT TO PAY.. he

also recorded an album with the Troubadores.he was married to a

Trinidadian woman .he sang Cry Me A River for her.

Still he would not be accepted. after all the shows and the new

beat..they laughed at him and his eccentricity.he would ride his

bicycle in the early morn with his pajamas on. so they commited him to

Jenkins ..but still he sang.. and

created a beats called *JAMBALAYA* and *JABEA*

A

new beat . a new beginning.he came back fresh ..but ..but.. somewhere

along the way the dreams returned.the premonitions of his life ending

came . so he recorded some of that pain..just listen to the song===

LONELY TEARDROPS. he hurried on too soon. a laughter from the end of his

years echoed across those Bridgetown streets. a few sailors heard and

remembered.his friend ESTHER HOYTE kept him close that night.

(a blue moon rising- Don Drummond.s trombone wailing-- the sound

dying-- a heart weeping -- a friend crying &--in the street lying

DEAD.)

The car's wheels gripped the road,leaving tyre marks stretched towards

the city.the lovers sat motionless ,suspended in the thick night

air.-march 8th ticked towards march 9th.-the hand moved towards the

steering wheel,capturing the seconds,breaking feverishly..

a scream....

the car out of control..speeding towards its end.

sw_ ---- --- __ .ing



.earv_ ---- .> across the road . a door

opens= a body falls to the ground.= the car's fender grips his head.

and the scream begins. the car drags him across the road . only

releasing him just before it enters the house.

The screams stops. the hurt begins. a crowd gathers over him,not

knowing who he was .just knowing a terrible accident had just occurred.

one occupant was still in the car..a woman.. on the ground, a man with

eyes opened./ fear spreading through him. he looks up,. towards the

sky.beyond the faces looking down ...his eyes fixed on the moon.his life

ebbing away and he's silently begging for his life ::; ((song- DON'T

LET ME DIE). he was too young to die::::(song-- ONE MORE CHANCE)... his

hands become numb..the water within him flows::;(song--LONELY

TEARDROPS).The moon is shining down on the tragic scene.its bad. the

body lies in the road.someone recognises him and a moan goes out.> out

into the night.>.across the land.

(( yes motherland..your son is dying)).

The road is bleeding, the face is still smiling .and its dark and

light at the same time .

There in the street he lays,dying. his voice silent now because the

moaning has stop.the smile is still there..the heart beat is still

there..so there.s some hope.

BUT GOD said=^come home my child you have done your best, ,come to your

eternal rest..come and sit down beside me. and he left

..us..^^^^_____ ^^^^^



In the morning,the newspapers shouted his name..the radio played his

music and the whole of Barbados stopped for a minute . it was a sad

,sad day.storm clouds gathered around. and the music played on.

YOU'VE GOT TO GO DOWN ON YOUR KNEES

AND CRY ME A RIVER.

YOU'VE GOT TO GO DOWN ON YOUR KNEES

AND CRY ME A SEA.



........>>...................>>>.....

The tributes poured in from all parts of the world..from Jamaica .from

America.from the Caribbean.from England,most notably from the leader of

the LUV BAND,MALCOLM WEST, he was generous in his appreciation of what

JACKIE OPEL had done.but was very critical of the bajan public and their

lack of support.



The day of the funeral.they turned out..the band members of the

Troubadores were dressed in their stage wear..the whole music industry

came out to pay their last respects. In the coffin he laid. a gold cross

resting on his bottom lip. they sang and they cried and when some of

the crowd couldn't see they jostled for a better position and a minor

disturbance occurred.

When it was over and the coffin was lowered .the poor boy from the

bridgetown streets wa buried without a sign..nothing on the

headstone..NOTHING((a crying shame)

it shoud have read;



DALTON BISHOP .aka JACKIE OPEL

1938-1970

gone too soon

but never to be forgotten

we love you Jackie



..............................

Yes , a simple note on his headstone, so that mothers and fathers

could tell their children about part of his life. the life of a poor boy

who left the shores to go and conquer the world. he fullfilled some of

his dreams ,but the rest of the dream lies with the next

generation..not just in the entertainment field,but in the cricket

field,in track and field. in any field.just go my sons and daughters. go

out and get education..let the world see your caribbean.

Today in 1998,the Government of Barbados unveiled a dedication--AN

AMPHITHEATER TO THE LATE GREAT JACKIE OPEL. his grandson was there .his

sister . brother and daughter were there.. yes its a start.but one

thing needs fixing.-. the name on the

headstone

If he was a king as the Jamaicans described ..how come the branches and

leaves of the trees only pay him homage.

*** PUT THE NAME ON NOW***

BUNNY WAILER ,the only surviving member of the Wailers.has started to

re-record some of Jackie Opel's music. so bajans wake up/...soon

JACKIE OPEL's name will light up again.



SONG;

five long years i've been painting

five long years i've been painting

pretty little pictures from within me

pretty little pictures

for the world to see



pictures of smoke

pictures of smoke



and when i hang them

i hang them upon my wall

when i look at them

the way i feel

oh how i feel

ten feet tall



from my pictures of smoke



;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

THE book was closed and the man walked away..around him people had

gathered .some of the women were wiping tears from their eyes. the d.j

had lowered the music while the story was being told.

The hosts were beginning to gather all the names of people who wanted to

appear in the video.. Nickki and Scorpio were in the line hugging-(oh!

something starting there)..Nickki was not shy anymore.Kitty Toy had to

pick herself off the ground when the rum punch and night air hit

her..she calapsed. The party was wining down..the dj started to play hip

hop and country music...some couples braved the music..some waltzing

and some hopping.



Cheryl(cee cee) had sneaked back inside and gave Patrick his dance..it

was a cool dance,nothing special..he thanked her with a kiss on the

cheek..his smooth cockney-accent sent a shiver down Cheryl's back ..(boy

Edwin lucky he turned up). she went back outside to Edwin and his

car. she shouted at some of de RUM SHOP LIMERS. ^^see you all tomorrow

at the beach..^^ bye.. kathy say bye to 0le Skoole for me..bye*^^

with that last bye.she was gone for the night and ....riddim...

Kathy looked around and the same girl who was wining pon her ole skoole

was now wining pon her nerves..the bold face girl was giving Ole Skoole

a phone number..(hey.. hey.) Kathy came up behind her, whispered

something in her ear and they both walked outside.



when they reached out of sight of everyone .kathy came up tuh she wid

her hands folded and WADDACKS... one cuff in she mout..the girl scream.

.but nobody was there to help her..

Kathy had served notice..**lef muh man or next time its a frying pan**

Kathy came back into the party armed with her hand-gun ready tuh throw

cuffs in anybodee who try to steal her Ole Skoole.she acted like a

female Clint Eastwood..she woud deal wid anybody the same way..magnum

force. as for skoole she gine tek he home and teach he uh lesson..(oh

lawd)



Everyone was leaving the party.the hosts stood at the door shaking hands

and thanking everyone for coming . the host were Patrick and Tony Hoyos

and Mikey Hulsmier.

NATHALEE arrrived late. Tamara Marshall had left early.she wanted to go

home and add some finishing touches to the song...Monday was Tamara's

day.

Tony Garzette was in the kitchen ,impressing an american girl with his

brand of singing. as always Tony was dressed dapper. the girl told her

friends she.ll be at the hotel later.she wanted to hear him sing

another song.. Tony started with OH LONESOME ME. his fingers playing a

spouge beat on the table. DON'T LOOK BACK was the next one and the

last one was KNOCK ON WOOD.. The girl wrapped her arms around him and

led him through the door..all the time Tony was looking back and

winking ..



Duawee,Veronica and Brian were in conversation with some people from

Europe.they were discussing the music changes from the 70.s to the

90.s.. Veronica's yawn signalled it was time to leave. Brian had himself

a girl now . he kissed Veronica on her cheek.fisted Duawee and walked

over to where Marlene was sleeping.

Brian overconfidently, kissed Marlene on the lips.to wake her up. On

opening her eyes .she first saw Brian's new girl. she jumped

up.thinking it was the girl.s kiss. she saw Brian amongst her glassy

eyes.

Marlene ;Br.. Brian whu yuh kiss me fuh. i did in uh nice sleep and

yuh come wake muh up. i had fine minds to slap yuh in yuh face. who

she? yuh pick up a pretty wun..you and Duawee gine got a competition

tuh see who gine get the prettiest girl.

Brian; sorry.marl.. i just wanted to see how it feels to wake a

sleeping beauty.

Marlene ;Scchuuups(sucking teeth).. look guh wheh wid dah old talk. yuh

lucky uh don.t tell Tony and let he beat yuh.

Brian;man beat wha. Tony only full uh mout.and i would buss he in

it..hee heee(laughter).

Marlene; look guh long. yuh hard back shite.and tek dah woman wid yuh ..

yuh did even come over tuh dance wid me. but uh glad cause i got nuff

phone numbers and uh ( yawnnnnn).uh.. sorry. uh get chat up all

night..yuh see muh wid LIL RICK. boy he tell muh he gine geh muh free

tickets tuh he shows and he gine pull muh pon stage when he up deh. uh

gine show off tuh muh friends .. see yuh..(( yawnnn)).. later.. bye.

Brian sticks his tongue out at Marlene and struts out,like a peacock

,through the door and into the yard. the girl gets in and keeps her head

straight. she didn't understand any of the words Marlene used. .she was

European ..

Duawee gets the address and times for the filming . he thanks

Patrick..play-punches Mikey(dread-man) Hulsmier on the arm. He , Marlene

and Veronica headed for the door.

The party was over ..the last record played was the NATIONAL ANTHEM.

..

The two girls fell asleep five minutes into the ride home.. so Duawee

made a quick decision..everyone. to his house .. and sleep.

The car lights off. he roused the girls..Marlene muttered something

about dancing with LIL RICK..(poor girl) .. Veronica got out of the car

half sleepy..he took out the keys thinking she was at the hotel..the

keys did not fit..but she was too sleepy to realize her error..so she

gave Duawee the keys to open the door..

7:23..am the clock sound vibrates the room and the sleeping heads. they

all awake foolishly.. Marlene hits her head on a door..its the wrong

door..wait its the wrong room..its the wrong house..she started to

swear,but catches herself in mid -speech...it's sunday..no cursing. she

heads to the bathroom to get her face ready.

At first, Veronica was scared, when she noticed where she was.she had

caught a glimpse of Marlene and thought she was dreaming. she looked

around at the unfamilar furniture.she heard Duawee.s voice and she

checked herself. she was dressed in a t-shirt with some african

drawings..the writing..stated JUMP UP.. CROPOVER IS WE CULTURE. she

wondered how she got into the short shirt.

Veronica thought"~ i hope Duawee didn.t dress me.".

Her fears were allayed.when Marlene came bouncing in the

room..shouting out her name.

Marlene: Veronica...Veronica..how yuh like yuh t-shirt..i kept the

best one for myself..Duawee got on one too. he's in the kitchen making

breakfast..we got tuh hurry..cause if we get late fuh church .muh mother

gine blast we wid she tongue.we.ll never hear the end of it.. to her,,

sunday is the LORD's day. so leh we get ready. uh real hungry..

Veronica hurried to get ready for breakfast..when she enterd the

kitchen .Duawee and Marlene had already eaten.Duawee was dressed for

chuch and was reading a magazine.

A quick good morning, a quick breakfast,and they were out of there. to

the hotel first..Veronica was told to bring some clothes to wear for the

rest of the day..she grabbed some outfits .placed them in a bag and ran

out to meet the waiting car... to Marlene's house and Junie's

wrath..maybe.



9:16am.. the car slid around the house..Before it completely stop

Marlene jumps out and is in the house before the engine dies.

Junie, the baby and Lorraine(the baby's mother) are already dressed..

Lorraine's boyfriend was late. he was taking them to chuch. Junie shot

a look of disgust at Duawee ,who knew what it meant..the look read**

why yuh keep Marlene out all night and bring she back late** the smile

from Veronica cooled her temperament..they all joined in

conversation..the baby taking everyone's attention.. Lorraine noticed

the dress Veronica wore and enquired about it. the compliments then flew

from Junie's lips.. Lorraine warms towards Veronica.. they were just

getting to exchange greetings..when the boyfriend's car arrived..its

horn impatient.. he walked up the steps, and catches himself,when he

see Veronica. Boyfriend; GOODMORNING. how is

everyone this morning? Everyone returned the

pleasantries..The boyfriend started talking in some strange accent,he

was trying to impress the stranger.he stopped when no-one noticed him..

he kept looking around the room..

Two cars pulled away from the house,heading towards the church.. a

number of cars joined them on the journey.

The cars dumped the occupants .they entered the chuch .its half

empty..9:53am..the priest greets people as they enter.. they all curtsy

before they enter the pews. some making the sign of the cross +

Songs ring out throughout the church.

Priest in the pulpit>>:

Another sunday.different week, and the same

faces everyweek..where are the young ones?. mothers..where are your

daughters?. fathers where are your sons? it's a shame ..they are not

here..praising the lord,who gives them life everyday..but instead they

spend that life in conflict everyday.. in this country name..BARBADOS..

two words can be taken, which represents our youth of today..BAR... the

drinking youth in the rum shop, yelling out god's name in vain..cursing

and fighting . BAD.. the youth who doesn't love himself or

anyone..he points his fingers to the sky and the gun to the head..

what do we do to heal this country.? we look into the bible and we find

some answers.but the social decay in which our young live cannot be

found in the psalms. we need some community spirit. to push away the

devil's spirts from their hearts.. drugs aren't the answer. only in

god's words can they find answers. bless them dear father.. Lets us

pray.. ...=heavenly father we come to you this

morning..we asked you to search in these young people's hearts and give

them a sign. some love ,some respect. let them start loving each other

,respecting the old. Drive the dreaded drugs from their lives and from

these shores. we beg you.merciful father, for their lives.. let them

live and let live. lead them ,dear lord, to a greater understanding of

life. lead them to your glory.. in Jesus'name we pray... amen.



More songs and communion followed..then the service ended. people

filed out of church, children played with each other ..the old people

gathered at the front to speak with the preacher. gratitude exchanged

for a lovely service and semon. cars hurried away to their homes.

Veronica wandered off to the back of the church. she found a grave-yard.

she read some of the headstone.. one dated as far back as 1751..

another showed that a Greek king was buried there. the history of the

place was most interesting..she read and walked.. until Duawee called

her name..she skipped and rushed up to him.. they kissed.

Duawee : Marlene got a ride home,so it just you and i here . i wanted

to visit my parent.s grave ..would you like to come with me?

Veronica shakes her head. yes.!



They drove about five hundead yards and found a larger grave-yard.

Some freshly dug graves and some older ones.. flowers all over them.

some people were moving amoungst the tombstone. Tears

fall here.hearts are broken and mended here..love-ones are buried here.

here in this desolate place,where strangers meets ghosts and gnashing

of teeth are commonplace.

Duawee and Veronica held hands.. said a prayer..laid flowers and left.

Home to rest their tired bodies.. .

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