Photo: VI Carnival Committee on Facebook, Lord Blakie at 2012 VI Carnival Coronation and Ball
“Lord Blakie’s Carnival Tribute Extravaganza” will be hosted by the Virgin Islands Carnival Committee in honor of the late Kenneth “Lord Blakie” Blake on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Lionel Roberts Stadium St. Thomas. The program begins at 2:30 pm with a parade, followed by a memorial service and celebration of his life at 4 pm. Then, at 6 pm, the Extravaganza begins.
Lord Blakie passed away on Friday, Dec. 1, 2019. He was a Master of Kaiso, the traditional form of Calypso; his skill brought him the Calypso King of the World crown in Trinidad in 1971, and he excelled at Extempo, creating lyrics extemporaneously onstage while remaining true to rhyme scheme and song structure.
Blakie was also a Law Enforcement Officer, serving faithfully in uniform as Corporal Blake, heading up the Police Athletic League (PAL) and also hosting the Community Oriented Policing Program (“The COPP Show”). He produced the “Calypso Past & Present” show, to highlight local and international stars of the art form.
Blakie will be remembered as a steadfast supporter of culture, Carnival, the youth, and the members of the community that he protected and served. He will be missed.
Lord Blakie’s Carnival Tribute Extravaganza begins with a parade at 2:30 pm, followed by a tribute and memorial at 4:00 pm. Then, Calypsonians and musicians will take to the stage to celebrate his legacy in song.
- Read more on Lord Blakie at the VI Carnival Committee website
- Read the VI Source article Friends Remember Blakie’s Life of Duty, Music and Culture
- Read Lord Blakie More Popular than St. Thomas Govt (Chalkdust interview) at T&T Newsday