edmond hart passes

​Veteran masman Edmond Hart died yesterday at the age of 94.
Hart died at the San Fernando General Hospital after falling ill on Thursday night.
His passing was announced on the Harts Carnival website yesterday. The mas band said, “At this time, we sincerely appreciate all the kind words and prayers from our family, friends and fellow masqueraders.”
Hart started his Carnival band in 1960 with his then wife Lil. Hart, originally from San Fernando was a part of bands with Harold Saldenah and Bobby Ammon. Their first band of the year title came in 1966 with the band Playing Cards, followed by four more titles with Inferno (1970), Mas Sweet Mas (1983), Islands in the Sun (1986) and Out of this World (1988). In 1973, Edmund Hart received the Humming Bird Gold Medal for his contribution to Carnival development.
David Lopez, head of the National Carnival Bandleaders Association (NCBA) said “the old veterans are going one by one,” referring to the passing of bandleader Neville Aming at 95, last week.
Lopez said Hart was one of the first bandleaders to be involved in a bandleaders association. “He, along with George Bailey and Neville Aming were among the first to approach Dr Eric Williams about the formation of what was the Carnival Bandleaders Association.”
“His contribution to Carnival was really great along with his wife Lil. They were really artists who loved what they were doing,” he said.
Lopez said the NCBA has honoured the Harts by naming the Small Band of the Year trophy after Lil Hart who died in 1991.
“They were making mas in the days when you had creativity in Carnival when they didn’t have all that money. His legacy is with his children, the Harts new generation.
“On behalf of the NCBA, we extend condolences to the Hart family. T&T will be ever grateful to him and his wife for the contribution they made to Carnival.”
Edmond Hart leaves behind his wife, Judy, six children Karen, Maritza, Thais, Aixa, Luis and Gerald, as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Source:  Guardian, September 30, 2017

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