Family, friends, colleagues in the music industry and supporters gathered in Antigua on Tuesday to bid farewell to soca artiste Ricardo Drue.
Drue, 38, died on December 12 at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre in Antigua. His final send off, almost a month later, was also held in his native country at the Holy Family Cathedral.
The pews at the church were filled with people who all had a different versions of “the Drue story” many that no matter the background were filled with support, love and of course soca music.
“Drue said we going and sing for mommy...at the time mommy had a lil flu so she was on the bed, so me and Ricardo put on the beads, shades, gel the hair, kick in the door (bam) time to perform, singing around the bed, we sang a song for her called a song for mama by Boys II men, in the middle of the performance he flips the brush catches it back and starts, Carnival is colour, Carnival is mas,” his brother Nicolas Quinn told the congregation
Quinn said Iwer George was his favourite soca artiste and he remember his brother considering a different career in case music did not work out.
His mother, Nicola Barriteau, said one thing she loved about her son was that he never gave up on his dreams.
“You loved hard, you played hard and you cried quietly,” she said.
Barriteau said she felt like she was in a movie, but even though the character died his legacy lived on.
“You were and are a good father Ric, you loved those boys...and when Lily came you felt complete because you had four princes and a princess,” she said.
The grieving mother said she knew why her son came and understood that she had to let him go.
“You’re name will forever be stamped in our hearts,” she said.
His three eldest sons remembered their father for how supportive he was no matter what they chose to do.
One of them said, “There are many things that I can remember about my father, but the one thing that I will always carry with me is how much he motivated the five of us, before any game, any big test, it didn’t matter what it was the words he would tell us is that Drues are great,” one of his sons said.
Another remembered how Drue taught him how to play basketball and wished he was still here to see how good he had become.
Other than his fiancé Patrice Roberts, several other of Drue’s colleagues (Broskis) were at the funeral. They remembered him for his support on an off the stage.
“He showed so much love to me, every single time I needed Drue to be there it could be my wedding it could be anything he would make it a priority,” Stephen Phillip, also known as DJ International Stephen, said.
“I’m standing here today in front of your family, I promise to you my brother to continue your legacy, you music will live on,” he said.
Soca artiste from St Vincent, Gamal Doyle, also known as Skinny Fabulous, remembered when he was ill and how Drue showed up and followed up daily until he felt better.
“Drue just knew how and when to show up and what to say,” he said.
In tears, St Lucian soca artiste Teddyson John thanked Drue for everything he had done for the industry.
Destra Garcia performed Ethel Waters’ His eye is on the sparrow.
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne was also at the funeral.
