Garifuna Collective returns from successful int’l tour
One of the old sayings in the entertainment business is “the show must go on” … and that’s exactly what happened following the unexpected death of musician Andy Palacio in January of this year. The North American tour previously scheduled for him and his band, the Garifuna Collective, went on without him and according to vocalist Lloyd Augustine, who performed many of Andy’s standards, it was a success.
Lloyd Augustine, Lead Vocalist, Garifuna Collective
“Singing Andy Palacio song out there, the people received it very well but a lot of them are sad because, I believe, they know Andy Palacio. It was very emotional, like whenever we sing Watina, we’d sing “Watina” and everybody start to wave their hands and start crying because they remember Andy Palacio. So it was a successful tour as well. We played in Washington DC in a village similar to Bliss and when I tell you, when we start performing everybody was just sitting to watch to see what was going to happen. And I tell you by the third song, everybody on their feet dancing, lapping and they are singing Andy Palacio song for word and that makes me feel so good.”
Stewart Krohn
“The question I have to ask, Lloyd, is I think after Andy’s untimely death there were a lot of musicians out there particularly, obviously Garifuna musicians and vocalists who got the feeling of—well they didn’t come right out and say it—was that they longed to be next Andy Palacio. Does that characterization work for you?”
Lloyd Augustine
“No, absolutely not. I don’t want to think that because that’s big shoes to fill to be like Andy P. of course, I’m just here to help promoting Garifuna music, Garifuna culture, teach it to the world because Andy Palacio had opened the door and take it very far. So now it’s just time to continue. So I’m here to continue, at least to help.”
For producer Ivan Duran, the importance of what Andy did during his career should have long lasting impact on Belize’s musical future.
Ivan Duran, Producer, Stonetree Records
“The important thing about this tour, this tribute—which is the first time that we are honouring one of our artists in such a way–what’s really important, I think there will be times where we will think what is the next step in terms of music and the new artists that will come up. I think there’s time for that. Now, I think everything is too fresh. Andy just left us a few months ago and one of the first decisions that we took collectively was that the tour had to happen, that we had to honour his memory by going back on the road and performing this tour on his honour. And the reaction so far on this first leg of the North American tour is that you could see the reach of that Andy had, we;; beyond the Belizean and Garifuna communities in the U.S. I think it really important for everyone not to forget Andy and what he means to Belize, really. It’s more than jus his music or just Andy, the person that we all love. Andy as an icon is so valuable to our country, in my opinion because what he did for Belize and what he continues to do even now. He has become an inspiration for many artists, not only in Belize but places that he went. I think it’s really important not to forget that and to do our part to make sure that we continue to build on what he left.”
The group leaves Wednesday for performances at a festival in Mexico City and will return home for some studio work before heading off on a six country tour of Europe in late June.
