By Tangerine Clarke
George Deryck Rodwell
Etkins, fondly called “Derry” a
maestro, whose career spanned
four decades and three CARICOM
countries, as a composer,
multi-instrumentalist and music
educator, ended on May 23, when
he passed away after minor surgery
at the Georgetown Hospital
Corporation.
Roger Etkins, told a virtual
wake, organized by the Guyana
Cultural Association NY, (GCA)
on June 3, that his brother,
Derry, lived the qualities instilled
in him by their mother.
He said the strength, character
and drive Derry had, kept him
in the hearts of his many friends,
and noted that musician’s legacy
will live on.
Etkins who migrated to Barbados
as a 19-year-old organist,
and taught at the Christ Church
Foundation School, St. Leonard’s
Boys’ and The Alleyne School,
was a member of the Telstars
band, rehearsed near the Bayland,
St. Michael, and played with
Wendy Alleyne and the Dynamics
Caribbean L 18 ife, June 12-18, 2020
& The Outfit, according to a
Barbados publication.
After many years on the
island, where he also made a
name as an arranger and music
commentator, Etkins, returned
to Guyana and continued his
illustrious career.
He was an instructor at the
Cyril Potter College of Education,
with the responsibility for
rehabilitating the college’s music
education program, his very last
assignment.
The musical giant had indicated
that his greatest desire was
to see Guyanese music take its
place in the world and to one
day play his part by teaching
Guyanese children to appreciate
music more, traveled across
Guyana delivering workshops to
schoolteachers.
Etkins grew up in Plaisance
in a home filled with music. His
father sang with the All Saints
Boys Choir in New Amsterdam.
His mother was a mezzosoprano.
There was a piano in
his home. His younger brothers
played steel pans and drums,
wrote President of GCA, Dr. Vibert
Cambridge.
“He found his inspirations in
many places. He was influenced
by the soundscape of Plaisance
— sounds of birds in the back
dam, masquerade bands, steel
bands, Cumfa drumming, and
bhajans.”
This early exposure is evident
in the titles of his many original
compositions. Consider a few:
“Coconut Broth,” “Roots Walk,”
“Plaisance Back dam,” “64,” “Jig
Saw,” and “Masquerade Sweet
Suite,” said Dr. Cambridge.
The tribute said, “the musician
had a performing track record
stretching back to his days at the
prestigious Queen’s College High
School, (QC), where he was the
arranger for Q.C. Syncoms. He
was a member of Guyana’s other
pioneering bands — the Graduates
and Solo Sounds International.
As a practicing musician
during the 1970s, Derry performed
in Brazil, Barbados, and
Canada.”
“Between 1978 and 1983 he
studied music with Sybil Husbands
George Deryck Rodwell Etkins. CineGuyana
and Edith Pieters, emphasizing
composition and arranging.
As a certified music teacher,
Derry taught in Barbados and the
British Virgin Islands. Despite
living abroad and working as a
music educator, he remained an
active musician and engaged in
Caribbean and Guyanese musical
life.”
Etkins, who returned to Guyana
after the devastating hurricane
in the BVI, composed,
“Masquerade Sweet Suite,” premiered
during the Masquerade
Lives symposium organized by
the Guyana Cultural Association
of New York in Guyana during
November 2012, according to Dr.
Cambridge.
The musician who dedicated
his life to giving back to his
country, conducted music workshops
for students at St. John’s de
Bosco Orphanage and the Tina
Insanally Music Foundation.
Derry Etkins – Guyana has
lost a musical giant
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