After decades of making and teaching music, 79-year-old Martin Albino shows no signs of slowing down. He is currently promoting his fourth album and still teaches pan to students, young and old, in Montreal, Canada.

However, unfortunate rumours of his death almost derailed his plans and prematurely cut short his decorated legacy in the music industry of TT.

A rumour that Albino had died began making the rounds on social media recently after an acquaintance mistook news of someone else’s death, and said it was Albino who had died.

“Someone called up a friend of mine and told him that I was dead,” he said.

The mistake was made because of the similarity in the names of the two men. The dead man was Victor St Martin, who also lived in Montreal. Albino had a good laugh at the mix-up during his interview with Newsday, but said at the time he was furious.

“He has my number; he knows all my friends. Call if you think something like that is true. You know what he did? He put it on social media.”

Albino said his nephew, who he hadn’t heard from in years, called him in a panic when he saw the information circulating and advised his uncle to take legal action.

Albino said the person eventually called him to apologise upon realising his mistake, but Albino was not amused. “Verify before you put things on social media. If my sister (Merle Albino-de Couteau) had seen that, she could have had a heart attack.”

The band plays on

Albino said the situation is behind him now, and he is moving forward with his music. He recently released his fourth album, Martin Albino: Nostalgia, which is reminiscent of his own history in the music industry.

The album is dedicated to former All Stars arranger, and Albino’s mentor, Neville Jules, who died two years ago.

[caption id="attachment_891554" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The cover of Martin Albino's new album -[/caption]

“On the cover I have Minuet in G, because that was the first song I played with Neville Jules with All Stars in 1958.”

The album is a mix of Albino’s musical influences over the years, including pan and calypso, and a few French ballads, which he included because he has amassed a few francophone followers over the years from performing at a French club in Montreal.

Albino also dedicated the album to his three-year-old granddaughter Nora, recreating Lord Kitchener’s hit calypso by the same name in honour of her.

“She is a beautiful young lady. I love her very much and she has brought tremendous joy to my life.”

A history of music

Albino began his musical career in Trinidad on the Aunty Kay programme at the age of 12. Hosted by Kathleen Davis, it showcased young talent on radio every Sunday at 2 pm.

“A lot of great musicians in TT started in the Aunty Kay programme. It was the Scouting for Talent for kids,” he joked.

His father wrote calypsoes for him and his siblings to perform.

“Many people don’t know this, but th