Dear Editor,
I would like to tell my comrades about the amazing Alberto “Betty” Daal (February 28, 1965 to September 6, 2018).
Betty, as he was affectionately known, had a very attractive style as a producer of music. And he was very versatile. The trombone was his instrument of choice, but he could play the keyboard and the bass guitar equally well. Betty and I always talked about music when we met. But the discussion would be mostly about calypso and soca music – Caribbean classics.
The “Amazing Betty” had played with many musicians, therefore he picked up musical nuances from fellow musicians.
The legendary Creole Stars was one of the bands that he was a member of. Fifth Division he formed together with some of St. Maarten’s greatest. In preparing this salute about the “Amazing One”, I met trumpet player and producer Yves Maccow and we took a stroll down memory lane. Yves spoke favourably about Betty.
Betty and his fellow trombone player Jean-Marie “Tom” Gittens used to play in sweet two-part harmony. During the 1980s, Fernando “Might Cat” Thewet held the coveted Road March crown for two years consecutively. And the man who made that possible was the “Amazing One”. Then a little later on when melodious Singing Olivia hit the stage in glitz and glamour with “Zouk Way”, again the “Amazing Betty” was the man of the hour. Betty would try to lure me into playing rhythm guitar for him, but I respectfully declined.
Comrades, Betty was an incredible musician. We have lost Alberto “Betty” Daal too soon. He is gone but not forgotten. But as we prepare to celebrate 50 Years of Carnival, let us remember Betty Daal fondly.
In closing, I would like to improvise with Mighty Cat’s tune “Gone but not forgotten”.
Gone but not forgotten, gone but not forgotten Betty Daal!
Julien F. Petty
