NCF mourns passing of Sir Charles Emile Straker
The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has joined the nation in mourning the passing of Sir Emile Straker, describing him as a national cultural treasure whose influence spanned more than six decades. In a statement, the NCF said Sir Emile’s voice and vision helped carry the sound of Barbados to the world through his work with […] The post NCF mourns passing of Sir Charles Emile Straker appeared first on nationnews.com.
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The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has joined the nation in mourning the passing of Sir Emile Straker, describing him as a national cultural treasure whose influence spanned more than six decades.
In a statement, the NCF said Sir Emile’s voice and vision helped carry the sound of Barbados to the world through his work with The Merrymen, which he co-founded in 1962.
Below is the full statement
With heavy hearts, the National Cultural Foundation joins Barbadians, at home and in the diaspora, and the cultural and creative communities in mourning the loss of a true national cultural treasure, Sir Charles Emile Straker.
For more than six decades, Sir Emile’s voice and vision carried the sound of Barbados to the world. Beginning his professional journey in 1961 in Canada, he returned home to form The Merrymen in 1962 with the late Robin Hunte Stephen Fields and Chris Gibbs, and together they crafted a distinctive Caribeat that became synonymous with Barbadian spirit. From humble performances at St. Winifred’s to stages at Madison Square Garden, Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Superbowl XIII, Sir Emile and The Merrymen shared their warmth and joy across four continents and over 100 countries.
A prolific composer and consummate performer, Sir Emile gave us timeless songs — Ring Ting Ting, The Big Bamboo, You Sweeten Me, Barnabas, Nut Seller, Gary Sobers, and the beloved Beautiful Barbados, often called our unofficial anthem — among hundreds of recordings. His extraordinary vocal range embraced calypso, reggae, spouge, cadence and more; his whistling brought Christmas cheer to generations. Under his stewardship, The Merrymen helped put Barbados firmly on the world’s tourism and cultural map.
Beyond the stage, Sir Emile devoted himself to cultural development on the island: serving on the first Crop Over Festival Committee, advising the NCF and Barbados Tourism Authority, supporting charities and national celebrations. His contributions were recognized with the Barbados Centennial Honour (2000), the CBE (2013), and the Knight of St Andrew (2019), among several other national awards.
In 2023, the NCF celebrated Sir Emile’s contribution to the local and international music landscape at NIFCA Music in the Square – Icons Night held in Golden Square Freedom Square in the The City. In that same year Sir Emile published his rich story in his autobiography “My Island and Me”, edited by John Roett, which was launched at Ilaro Court with support from the NCF and the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Board of Management and Staff at the NCF extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the global music fraternity. Sir Emile was more than a musician and composer — he was an ambassador, a beacon of Barbadian culture, and a cherished part of our collective heart. May his music and memory continue to inspire, and may he rest in peace.
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