BROADCASTING legend Winston David Elcock has been remembered as a consummate professional, who not only nurtured the talents of rookie broadcasters but also created avenues for local artistes to showcase their talents to the world.
Singer Carol Addison delivered one of several tributes to Elcock on Saturday during his funeral service at the R Steven Legal Funeral Home, Avenue N, Brooklyn, New York.
Elcock, who would have turned 79 later this month, died in New York around 1.30 pm on August 25 after a lengthy illness.
One of Trinidad and Tobago’s pioneering broadcasters, he was best known for the now-defunct National Broadcasting Service’s (NBS) Radio 610’s Elcock in the Morning programme, which ran from the early 70s to the 90s.
Addison, who migrated to the US many years ago, said she owed a huge debt of gratitude to Elcock, whom she regarded as a friend and confidante.
“I owe a tremendous portion or maybe all of my career to the support that Dave gave to me because through him promoting my music, he positioned me in a way that many doors opened across the globe and a lot happened as a result of him supporting the music,” she told mourners.
Addison said Elcock, who gave his life to Christ several years ago, also attended many of the concerts of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and other places where she ministered.
“So I owe a lot to him and I thank God for his life.”
The singer said she and Elcock had also bonded over the loss of their spouses. His wife, who had battled cancer, passed away almost three years ago.
At the end of her tribute, Addison sang the hymn, I Will Lift Up My Eyes and Take Me Back, one of Elcock’s favourites. The latter, she said, was the only gospel song from her Born To Shine album.
Tobago entertainer Michael Baker, calypsonian David Rudder and gospel artiste The Rev Nicole Ballosingh-Holder, in separate virtual tributes, also recalled that Elcock had helped them during the early part of their careers.
Saying Elcock was instrumental in his popularity on the local airwaves, Baker said he played several of his tunes on the radio, including The Base, Who Take Way She Man, A Good Working Old Thing Better Than A Young Thing and his signature tune, Come Discover Both Of Us.
Baker listed several prominent broadcasters of the 1970s and 80s, saying Elcock ranked highly among them.
But he lamented that the popular broadcaster had to leave the career he loved in search of greener pastures in the US.
[caption id="attachment_973286" align="alignnone" width="747"] Calypso legend David Rudder in concert at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain in July. - SUREASH CHOLAI[/caption]
“In another society, someone stated, Big Brother Dave Elcock would have been retained to train and mentor the current local generation of broadcasters. Instead, at the prime of his illustrious career, Elcock was forced to hightail it to the United States to seek employment in ano
