The Andy Palacio Tribute Concert Dubbed "La Ceiba To Belize" was held on Saturday night at the Bliss Center.
It was an effort organized by a group called Events Planners who wanted to thrust Andy Palacio back into the forefront of public attention with a concert and a book about his life.
Indeed, as great as he was, the memory of this music and culture man has already started to fade. So, his friends and fans set up a concert to re-kindle that memory by singing his songs and celebrating that Garifuna culture that he guarded so zealously and propagated so passionately.
It aired live on Channel 7 - and here are a few highlights.
Jules Vasquez reporting
The evening had a familiar sound - and the man whose songs they were singing - were being sung tonight in his honor.
Member of band
"Four years have gone since Andy left us but yet we are here with a heavy heart continuing the hard work that he has started off for us."
It was a celebration of old friends - pulling off some classic moves - and that old voice, still belting
Rafeal Martinez, MC
"We are going from the old generation to the new to introduce a very special young man. A young man who bears the same name of our national hero and icon and UNESCO Artist for Peace Kamou Andy Palacio."
Member of band
"The torch is being pass on tonight. Remember we talk earlier about Andy Palacio's dream and the dream is alive - we pass on from generation and now they say the Garifuna culture is dying but it's very much alive from Paul Nabor to Aurelio - Lloyd and now to new 
generation to Kamou Andy Palacio."
And from there the pact was made complete - the torch passed on - a circle emotionally drawn. And what he did not improvise or impart in dance - Aurelio said in words.
Aurelio Martinez
"We don't have many good examples in the Garifuna history. In Honduras we don't have history about black people. I come from Honduras to give a special tribute to our good friend Andy Palacio. We have a special nation - Garifuna nation."
And it's not just words from a singer - there's also a book, THE ANDY PALACIO MOMENT: Sojourn of a Garifuna Cultural Activist
by Lawrence Vernon
Aurelio Martinez
"We have to learn the Andy Palacio history and bring to the children in the schools. It's the reason that we have this book today."
And on this night, they evoked Andy Palacio's memory and also invoked his spirit in a lively, memorable three hour concert event.
Currently, the book is only available from the publisher which is Events Planners; you can call Arlette Gomez at 600-1839, and it costs 15 dollars. They are working on getting it in stores.
Email
Print