To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=127347
21 messages

Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)

14 Feb 10 - 02:06 PM (#2839116)
Subject: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Leadfingers

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 .


14 Feb 10 - 02:20 PM (#2839126)
Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Tattie Bogle

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


14 Feb 10 - 02:23 PM (#2839129)
Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Will Fly

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


14 Feb 10 - 02:36 PM (#2839140)
Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Smedley

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.


14 Feb 10 - 02:37 PM (#2839141)
Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Herga Kitty

So do I!

Kitty


14 Feb 10 - 02:37 PM (#2839142)
Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: fat B****rd

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


14 Feb 10 - 02:43 PM (#2839146)
Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: Bernard

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


14 Feb 10 - 02:49 PM (#2839152)
Subject: RE: Obit: Cy Grant
From: jacqui.c

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

RIP Cy.


15 Feb 10 - 04:00 AM (#2839566)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: wilbyhillbilly

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.


15 Feb 10 - 05:25 AM (#2839616)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Kevin Sheils

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.


15 Feb 10 - 05:26 AM (#2839619)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Mr Happy

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


15 Feb 10 - 05:35 AM (#2839622)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Mr Happy

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


15 Feb 10 - 05:53 AM (#2839635)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Dave Sutherland

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


15 Feb 10 - 06:01 AM (#2839642)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Roger the Skiffler

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

RtS


15 Feb 10 - 06:20 AM (#2839656)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Bryn Pugh

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

Sad news.


15 Feb 10 - 08:11 AM (#2839748)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: bubblyrat

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


15 Feb 10 - 01:46 PM (#2840097)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Steve Parkes

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)


15 Feb 10 - 04:17 PM (#2840250)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Anne Lister

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


16 Feb 10 - 05:50 AM (#2840701)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: GUEST,Jim Martin

There is another another older thread on Cy:

thread.cfm?threadid=111031&messages=14
    Thanks for the tip, Jim. I crosslinked the threads. -Joe Offer-


17 Feb 10 - 04:31 AM (#2841673)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: bubblyrat

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 !


17 Feb 10 - 11:25 AM (#2841986)
Subject: RE: Obit: Calypso Singer Cy Grant (Feb 2010)
From: Tug the Cox

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!