Pan fraternity mourns loss of Eddie Yearwood

The pan fraternity is mourning yet another loss. Edwin Yearwood, husband of the late Mairoon Ali, died on Saturday. Yearwood, affectionately known as Eddie and Swanky Pops, was a calypso and steelpan enthusiast. Veteran announcer Mervyn Telfer described Yearwood’s death as sad. He said the loss was just one more blow to T&T’s entertainment industry.

Telfer described Yearwood as a very honourable man who passed on his love for entertainment to his sons, Olatunji Yearwood and Roland Edward Yearwood, known in the music industry as Rembunkshun. He extended his condolences to Yearwood’s children and family. President of Pan Trinbago, Keith Diaz, said the loss was a great one to the fraternity and extended condolences to the families.

Diaz also confirmed that Orville Wright was admitted to hospital and has since been discharged. The funeral service for Franklyn Ollivierra will be held today at the Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain at 9.30 am. Ollivierra died last Wednesday. He was awarded the Longest Pan Player in Panorama Award at Pan Trinbago’s 2012 ceremony held at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA).  He played for bands such Highlanders, Starlift and Phase 11.

About Yearwood
Yearwood was instrumental in the formation of Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco) as well as playing a vital role in Pan Trinbago. He began playing the steelpan from as early as age 13 with Tripoli and then Starlift. From there he went on to become the public relations officer (PRO) of the Third World Steel Orchestra, a band he helped form. He later moved to the Valley Harps at which he also became the PRO. Yearwood was also Pan Trinbago’s secretary for the Northern Region in the late 1970s. He worked at  91.9 FM teaching the public about pan on his programme, The Original Magic of Pan.