Cito, we will remember you

Cito came into prominence in 1959 with the band “Flowers and Fruits,” which survived the effects of the battle on Charlotte Street in the vicinity of the hospital between San Juan All Stars “Battle Cry” and a joint effort of Desperadoes and Tokyo.

Enough of the headpieces were saved to create a lasting impression on those who were at the savannah on Carnival Tuesday. Up to today its glories are still being recalled when persons of that era “talk mas.”

It was not until 1961 when he joined the display department at Forgartys Department Stores for the Christmas season, that I got to know him. Cito was hired to carve the animals for a creche and to make several “jumbie parasols” for a toyland, among other things. It was then that I saw, at first hand what the skill of wire-bending was, especially how to make a start.

In 1959 Cito was to introduce two things which made big changes to the head mas’ category in carnival. One was the finish of head pieces and the other, the change from the traditional white outfits to more colourful ones.

The boys from Barataria led by Cito played with Johannesburg Fascinators situated at St Joseph Road, Port-of-Spain, for several years until he decided to join Geraldo Viera to bring Flowers and Fruits. Up to today there are two accounts as to who had the original idea of the band. Both Cito and Geraldo Viera claim the honour.

The way of finishing a head mas’ before then was that after the wire frame was completed papier mache was added.

To this base “wadding” was applied, then the colour was added with “Flit”-guns, then later on spray bombs. Because of the texture of wadding the colours were never strong, and further to that the wadding was not a good base to which anything could be stuck.

The change came about when the wadding was eliminated, the papier mache base was improved and a mixture of “whitening and seed” glue was painted on, thus making the piece practically waterproof and an excellent base for all types of paints in their brightest colours. The base was also good enough to have things stuck unto it. For instance, in making a soursop, “pickers” from a Sandbox tree were stuck to the base of the headpiece.

The other change came about when some of his followers told him that there was no white fabric available for making their outfits, no drill, velvet, velveteen, corduroy “no nothing.” Cito, in a sort of offhanded way, told them to “use what you get” thus changing headmas’ outfits from white to any colour that the players fancied.

In 1962 the portrayal was Nature’s Notebook and following that, a call came from the Chamber of Commerce who wanted Cito and his team to decorate the streets of Port-of-Spain with flowers and fruits for our Independence celebrations. The work continued almost nonstop to the 1963 band “Splendour of the East” which brought a tassa band on the road for the first time in Carnival. The band came second to Silver Stars “Gulliver’s Travels” in the band of the year competition, but we took note that the Gulliver float came from his mas camp.

Will we ever see the kinds of head mas that Cito did? Hardly, since there are few really good wire benders of his calibre around. Also a simple thing as starch which was boiled to “paper” the wire frame became practically non-existent with the introduction of “spray starch.” Nothing works quite like it.

Here’s hoping that, as was suggested the NCBA introduce the Cito Velasquez Trophy for wire bending skills, especially the three dimension category. Farewell my friend, all who were fascinated by your genius thank you for the mas which will be spoken of for many moons to come.