Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 11:25 AM

Enjoyed his music as a kiddie when he was on the Tonight programme. Also remember him in a film when a nasty white man leaves hime behind when some people escape from an island, and he gets eaten by a shark!

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 04:31 AM

According to his obituary in "The Times" yesterday, he initially trained as a bomber pilot,but was "switched" to being a navigator,as,unbeknown to him (at the time) nobody would fly with a Black pilot ! How sad ! In any case,he was shot down after only his third "Op",and spent 2 years as a POW.Then followed his career as a barrister,actor,singer,presenter, counsellor,etc----what a man !

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 05:50 AM

There is another another older thread on Cy:

thread.cfm?threadid=111031&messages=14

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Thanks for the tip, Jim. I crosslinked the threads. -Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Anne Lister
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 04:17 PM

Cy was an amazing person. He was in the RAF (again, one of the few black faces, I suspect), and then trained as a barrister (ditto). He then became an actor and sang the calypsos ... went briefly back to the Bar and then back into acting and entertainment. Did a hell of a lot for black performers, one way and another.
I remember an early professional gig in Barry, where Cy was the main attraction and I was "support". It was a cold winter night in a draughty church hall, and the handful of audience that turned up sat huddled in their overcoats. Cy, on the other hand, was wearing a satin shirt open to the waist (and medallions) and didn't compromise at all on his performance given how few people were there.
I hope he was paid his full fee - I know I wasn't!
I wish I'd known then as much as I know now about the remarkable man he was, and I wish I'd spent more time talking with him instead of being so nervous ...what a man.

Anne

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 01:46 PM

No bus pass yet, but I remember Cy well from the Tonight program.

What was the name of the fair-haired girl that used to sing on David Jacobs' 6.30 show in the late 60s? I went see her in Walsall, which got me started going to fok clubs. (She was ill, so we got Ian Campbell instead)

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 08:11 AM

All us Bus-Passers remember him so well !!I'm glad he had such a good innings in the end .

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 06:20 AM

I well remember him from "Tonight", with his 'topical calypsos'.

Sad news.

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 06:01 AM

I guess that makes me one of the older 'Catters, too. I remember him from tv & radio and film.

RtS

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:53 AM

He co-hosted a folkish programme on Tyne Tees Television with Steve Benbow back in the middle sixties called "Country Style".
Sorry to hear of his passing.
RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:35 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ21FPr9S2U

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:26 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Grant

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 05:25 AM

Cy was also an actor. I remember being surprised when he appeared in one episode of Blakes 7, the opening episode of season 3 as scientist Hal Mellanby, father of Dayna who became one of the 7.

But like most here I remember him mostly from the tonight programme.

Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 04:00 AM

Oh Hell, I remember it too! and all those familiar faces, "I'm standing here by the banks of the Clyde" was one of my favourite catch phrases then, good old Fyfe or Fife Robertson.

RIP Cy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: jacqui.c
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:49 PM

WOW! - That takes me back! All those familiar faces.

RIP Cy.

Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:43 PM

What a blast from the past... sad to hear of his departure.

Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: fat B****rd
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:37 PM

RIP Mr. Grant. I also remember his appearances on 'Tonight'.

Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:37 PM

So do I!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Smedley
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:36 PM

I haven't done the research to back this up, but I suspect he was the first black performer to have such a regular slot on British TV. So in a low-key way, a real trailblazer.

Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:23 PM

Not a bad run at all. I remember him well on Cliff Michelmore's programme.

Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:20 PM

Only the older Catters Leadfingers!
Fast forward to 1 minute 45 secs for a brief view of Cy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3uvjRyZa8w

Subject: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:06 PM

Just heard on the Radio news - Cy Grant has died at age Ninety (NOT a bad run)
UK Catters may remember Cy singing Calypsos in the aerly days of BBC Television .