Musical Icon, Mister Peters, dead at 79
wilfred peters
Belize lost today one of its iconic musicians, Mister Wilfred Peters passed away this afternoon at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. The legendary King of Brukdong, in the last few months of his life, performed in a number of concerts: his last at the Cacao Festival on May twenty-third in Punta Gorda. Earlier in the month, he was part of the cultural explosion in Costa Rica when the first female president of that country was installed. On the day he turned seventy-nine, we celebrated his birthday on our Morning show. News Five’s Jose Sanchez has a report on the King of Brukdong.
Jose Sanchez, reporting
Wilfred Peters, the king of Brukdong music, has passed away. At two-thirty this afternoon, the seventy-nine year old man passed away at the K.H.M.H. During an interview on Monday, his daughter indicated that he fell ill on Sunday night and has been battling ever since to stay alive.
File: Monday June 7, 2010
Carla Peters Rodriguez, Daughter of Music Icon Mr. Peters
“The breathing got worse, so we took him to the hospital, but when he reached deh so, he collapsed. And the doctors worked on him to bring him back.
Jose Sanchez
“So he wasn’t breathing none at all?”
Carla Peters Rodriguez
“No, no! Ih heart mi stop! The doctors said ih heart completely stop and they just work pan ahn and bring him back.”
Jose Sanchez
“How long was he gone?”
Carla Peters Rodriguez
carla peters rodriguez
“A good lee while. I woulda seh musi bout five minutes because they work pan ahn and work pan ahn more and doctors put tube to ahn and soh fi bring ahn back.”
Jose Sanchez
“I know sometimes when people aren’t breathing for a long period of time; they say there is possibility of brain damage. Did they say anything if he is ok?”
Carla Peters Rodriguez
“They said no brain damage, but doctors seh we just have to wait and see how he respond to the medication and thing.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is he still sedated?”
Carla Peters Rodriguez
“Yes, they have to sedate ahn, because they seh ih move up too much and when ih move up too much ih pressure go high so they have to sedate ahn so that the pressure keep down.”
Jose Sanchez
“So it was a heart attack?”
Carla Peters Rodriguez
“Mmhm, Heart attack and lungs.
But it was time for Mister Peters, as he is affectionately known, to go home. His family was crowded for several hours at his bedside in mourning. Mister Peters, the iconic Belizean musician, credited his musical roots and adult themes such as “Shal eye baby” and “Solomon gyah” to childhood memories. That is what he shared when I first met him 9 years ago on May 17th, 2001.
File: May 17th, 2001
Wilfred Peters, Musician
“I was born on the farm and heard no radio. My father had a little accordion just like that and he played bruk down music for mother, brother, sister, all of us and there were thirty of us. All are gone now, only one sister and me are left. Nobody really showed me and I play the accordion, I just it a play it just like that.”
Jose Sanchez
“So from who did you learn to play Brukdong music?”
Wilfred Peters
“My father. Mom too, mom bad boy. You think it’s a joke, my sisters, those girls play the accordion and guitar. So when they said my sister played better than me, boy I didn’t feel so good.”
More recently, Mister Peters legend grew with international exposure when he was featured in the musical documentary The Three Kings.
Wilfred Peters
“I want when I go home, I would want the younger ones to learn, but they say it’s hard. It’s because of this disco music that they have here. So they don’t want it. See, they don’t want it that’s why things have to happen to them. When you put on that cassette, you see small ones out on the street going, “aiyaiyaiy.” how can they make it that way. Never make it that way. Never you give up the old for the new, boy. The new broom may sweep clean but the old one knows all the corners. Am I wrong or right?”
Jose Sanchez
“Right.”
Brukdong music won’t die. The House of Culture now holds a Bruk Down competition every year to inspire artists to keep Mister Peters’ music alive. Jose Sanchez reporting for News Five.
Tonight Channel Five will air at eight o’clock a repeat of a concert in May at the Bliss Institute where musicians from Central America and the Caribbean paid tribute to Mister Peters. Mister Wilfred Peters, dead at seventy-nine.
“Big name; but small pocket”, this is what Mr. Peters use to say. It’s high time we realize that we need to show our appreciation to our icons when they are alive. Maybe they’ll just feel good & appreciated. I think one Darius Avila did a big birthday & appreciation bash for the one Paul Nabor, and it was under the banner of “LET’S SHOW THE MAN HOW BIG HE BIG NOW THAT’S HE ALIVE”
My heart goes out to the Family in your time of sorrow , My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time, May you take comfort in knowing an angel is watching over you. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer. Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.
My Condolences to the family.
Why wasn’t there a team of good Belizean doctors coming together to save this icons life, couldn’t they send him out of the country for some help?
His music has been around for generations so for his fans, let his music live in your hearts.
Lord God Almighty father, only you have the answers as to why you took my grandfather. But granny would say “don’t question God, he already has everything planned.” I will miss you dearly, with my whole being and pray that you keep watch over us until we meet again. The family is very sad and can’t wait to come home, to see you once again, your beautiful smile. I love you “pa” sorry you had to go so soon and so young but don’t worry we will take care of “ma”. the whole world will miss you. Anyone who knew you was blessed to have you in their life. But they will forever have “bruckdown” and wonderful memories of you. I thank God you had a wonderful life and such beautiful family. I could go on and on but one thing is for sure “it won’t bring you back”. I’m glag i got to love you and have you as long as i did. All of us here in california love you and we’ll all be in one place very soon. I thank God for you and the memories of you. Your grand-daughter Letcia Garnett
RIP mister Peters, Belize wont ever have someone so talented pan Bruk Down music. you are truly the best
This is a great lost to the arts in Belize. Mr Peters was a creative composer and musician that ever lived. His love for Brukdong music is second to none. I am just glad to have lived in lifetime to see him performing manytimes. I pray for his daughter Carla Peters and the extended family. Thanks for sharing you dad with us for so many years.
peace and comfort to the family, rest assured that God only takes the best,
Once you believe in the death and ressurection of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth you will see him again.
Take a good look at the stars tonight and see how they will be dancing to the sound of Mr Peters brukdown music in heaven!!!
Mr Peters will live on forever in his music . He was a great man.R.I.P
I WILL ALWAYS MISS MY GRAND FATHER DEARLY, BUT HE’S IN A BETTER PLACE NOW
I had the priveledge of attending one of his concerts. Wow, what a great experience. I am so proud Belize has so much talent. We honor him by listening to his music and by teaching the next generation the great man that he was and all his contributions to our country. My Condolences to the family…..
What a loss for BELIZE…. yes, an icon. I looked forword to to going anywhere I knew he would be playing when I visit Belize in September. …May the family hold on to the legacy that he left in music, smile and love for his family as stated by his the grandaughter ….
Give Thanks for Musician like the Honorable Mr Peters who help to keep
our culture alive. Peace and love to your family Yahweh Shalom
RIP Mr. Peters. We will always remember You
Its so sad to say good bye to a legend like Mr Peter,you surely will be miss Mr. Peters rest in peace
May God be with the Peters family,
my condolences and Mr. Peters rest in peace.
You are loved by your Belizean family
REST IN PEACE MR PETERS
R.I.P Mr. Peters.
My wish is to have someday a place like showroom with statues of andy palacio ( r.i.p bro ) and Mr Peters ( r.i.p gramps ) for our history and arts. things like these should be made in the jewel for pride and for honoring these iconic persons. Condolence to the grieving family and my total respect with the heart a proud Belizean. There are others that can be added like Hon. C. Price and mr. Philip G. . it would look very good for tourist and for our children growing that will never see them in life except Hon. Price. We should acknowledge this iconi people who has entered our nation’s name in the international history and has made us pruod regarding the hardtimes we go through life. Hope, hope someday someone with the art of sculpturing, finance and the courage can achieve this idea. Thanks Mr. peter for all the music you have made and we’ll keep hearing as long as we live.
My Family and I are far from Belize these days but we still listen to Love FM every morning and the day will not start out right without “Good Mawnin’ Belize” Mista Peters, God Bless you and your beautiful gift.
my heart goes out to the family and my god aunt B and kids NO THAT GOD IS THERE AT ALL TIMES LOVE TARICKA C.A
rest in peace pete, you have gone to that eternal brukdown concert in the sky.
RIP Mr Peters You’ve done your part.You are in a better place now Sir.
To the Peters family.He forever lives on and his soul will be in heaven with god and his other children.May he rest in peace.
R.I.P Mr Peters, my deepest sympathy to the family. Heaven was missing an angel so he sent for him. Marilyn, Nica and mom’s i will see u when u get back.
M[y deepest sympathy to the Peters family. I truly enjoyed his music and accompanying him and
Mr Flowers and the rest of the band to hear them play. The Boom and Chime Band will be surely missed. They are and will always be a huge part of Belize’s history
It was a big shock when I learnt that my buddy Peeti died. I immediately began to remember the good times I shared with him in Trinanidad and Tobago when him and I danced and the crowd began to shout “BELIZE,BELIZE”, he was not only a good musician he was a first class dancer. We went to England, Cuba and many were the culture nights and shows that we performed in together in Belize. He was a wonderful loving man and like myself a l00% Belizean. The last time I saw Peetie when I was in Belize I sat on the steps of his house along with his daughter and e juk down two tun mangoe fi mek ah eat wid sohn some peppa anh sal. I had him laughing and cracking up, he said “wi need yuh gyial dah wen yuh di cum bak”. He will surely be missed by all the world over. This is not good bye Peeti but Good Night. Peeti will always be with me I play his music every Saturday when I am cleaning my house and I dance and sing along to the tunes. RIP my buddy. Love to all his children and the rest of the family we in NY is praying for all of you.
peters was a good man, he left a legacy, family, public pick up where he left and continue the music.
“Boom & Shine” and “Bruck Down”, is to Belize what Jazz is to America. Mr. Peters = “The GodFather of BruckDown Music”. Our great grandchildren will study his work in school one day.
We will always remember Mr. Peters performance in Chicago two years ago! Our sincere condolence to the Peters Family. May he rest in peace in God’s everlasting arms. May our Bruk Down music live on the hearts and soul of our Belizeans and in the world!
We will always remember Mr. Peters performance in Chicago two years ago! Our sincere condolence to the Peters Family. May he rest in peace in God’s everlasting arms. May our Bruk Down music live on the hearts and soul of our Belizeans and in the world!
Flora Chestnut on behalf of The Belizean Cultural Bearers in Chicago
Mr. Peters will be missed we loved you when you were alive and never took your music for granted atleast in my family …. we hear your songs on the radio and they speak of whats happening in our town … you were not only a musician but an icon one that will be remembered for always… thanks for all that you contributed to our belizean culture… you will be missed
RIP uncle wilfred. never was able to meet you but you were loved and respected by many. may God hold you as high as your people have. Tell dad(Walter) we love him an will meet again. God bless