SCORES of family members and friends turned out at Mindoo Phillip Park last Thursday afternoon to say farewell to veteran calypsonian, Cyril “Get Through” Felix, who died on October 12 at age 66 following a brief battle with cancer.
Get Through, who lived at Trou Rouge, Marchand, is best known for immortalizing his community in song, namely “Marchand Posse”, which celebrates the people of greatness who came from the Castries suburb often cited for its crime and socio-economic challenges.
In his remarks, longtime friend, Truscott “Soukoo” Augustin, said Get Through was “a giant of a man, not in physical stature but strength and character”. He said Get Through was a simple and humble man who often went out of his way to be charitable to the members of his community. He said Get Through was a pioneer in many ways.
“At one time, Rastas had withdrawn from society to really get to know ourselves and understand each other,” Augustin said. “But Get Through always knew that we had to return (so as) to triumph because that’s the only way we would survive,”Augustin said.
Augustin recalled Get Through being a formidable force in various protests against the State’s unfavourable treatment of Rastafarians, including being among a group of Rastafarians who stormed Prime Minister Allen Louisy’s office following the killing of Terry James. Because of Get Through’s social activism, Augustin said respect for the Rastafarian community began to emerge.
“Get Through always wanted to be seen, heard and felt,” Augustin said. “So from early on, I felt in my heart that this very simple and unassuming man would be one of the rocks on which the foundation of Rasta would be established in Saint Lucian. I have been proven right.”
Get Through’s son Amman and daughter TelcarLissa were among family members present at Thursday’s ceremony dubbed “Get Through’s final chapter”. So, too, were scores of calypsonians and Rastafarians who praised the late calypsonian for his pioneering work in music, including forming the Take Over Tent in 1982.