Caribbean Life, May 15-21, 2020 11
Who knew the word ‘doula’
would emerge with millennial
frequency to the vernacular.
Unlike the ever-changing lingo
birthed by coded social media
messaging, this dictionary reference
applies to individuals
whose calling is to aid others
during challenging life-changing
episodes.
To imagine Vivian Scott
Chew, a doula might seem an
incomprehensible feat considering
she signed reggae
super-group Third World to a
lucrative record deal with Polygram
Records and later steered
Jamaican dancehall artist
Shabba Ranks to win two backto
back Grammy awards while
working at SONY Music, and
at the same company championed
the careers of then dancehall
diva Patra, child protégé
Vicious, a little-known Damian
Marley and Shaggy as well as
a roster of rhythm and blues
names more familiar in the
record industry.
One half the Chew power
couple whose husband is distinguished
as music director to
‘Dancing With The Stars,’ and
formerly in the same capacity
to the reality TV series ‘American
Idol’ and “Showtime At the
Apollo” she is revered for honing
a career that steadily surged
working with talent at Radio
City Music Hall and ASCAP
where she secured insurance
and compensation and performance
rights for talents in
need of publishing deals.
Throughout her storied
career she has been reputed for
comforting grief-stricken colleagues
and associates at times
of bereavement.
However, since the pandemic
travesty it is her benevolence
and understanding that has
been the bane of their needs.
“Because no more than 10
individuals can send-off loved
ones, virtual funerals have
become the norm rather than
the anomaly it was and on a
given day, I have had to assist
duties during virtual funeral
ceremonies – as many as three
on a given day,” she explained.
Chew describes her doula
calling as a ‘blessing.’
She explained that she never
feared dead bodies and found
reverence in holding the hand
of a near-death individual.
Had COVID 19 not caused
borders to close, Chew might
have travelled to Dubai, England,
Holland and Texas at least
twice in March.
With the national State of
Emergency forcing quarantine
conditions, she is with her husband
Ray, who has volunteered
to produce a weekly Facebook
Live fundraiser aimed at helping
musicians he said are without
a regular paycheck.
Presented live at 6 pm every
Thursday, the virtual music
benefit will assist freelance
musicians who on a regular
basis are hired to “gig.”
“People don’t realize that
these celebrated talents really
work from paycheck to paycheck,”
Ray explained.
Therefore, as Ray spends
time teaching piano lessons
and producing a fundraiser to
help colleagues throughout
delayed taping of the “Dancing
With The Stars” season,
the musical director and his
companion, the doula are now
juggling responsibilities.
In addition to responding
to miscellaneous industry
requests, Vivian helms her Timezone
International company,
coordinating duties related to
Chew International, the couples’
business entity, tending
to the myriad volunteer tasks
she is committed – Diabetes
foundation, New Jersey Cultural
Commission, etc – and
answering the call of being a
doula.
As we meditate the months,
let’s give thanks to the spiritually
guided individuals who
provide comfort to people they
may or may not have ever met.
Let’s clap our hands for the
doulas of the days.
Vivian and Ray Chew.
Music insider – a doula –
and virtual realist