Memories of Cito Fermin

Cito Fermin and Orchestra impressed the masses in the 1950s with their big band sound.

In an interview at his Maracas/St Joseph home in May 2007, Fermin admitted that he developed his musical appetite by watching his grandfather practice with a parang group.

“When he would come home I would sit close to him and admire what he was doing,” he said.

Fermin, born on August 7, 1919, lived in Bourg Mulatresse, Lower Santa Cruz. As a young man he worked in the Rabies Control Department before joining the Navy during World War II. Fermin worked on two boats, Omen III as a minesweeper and The Dorothy Duke as a stoker.

He said he always liked the sea and he was a part of it for almost three years before they deemed him medically unfit.

For his service in the war, he received a medal and a loyal service badge. After the war ended, he set his sights on developing his musical talents.

Fermin bought a banjo after hearing Len Woodley and his orchestra play at a dance he attended with his cousin.

His career got started after a local musician, Primey, heard him play and asked him to be a part of his band, the High Hatters.

He then played with a band from Tunapuna, Jack Payne. He also played with Desmond Durham and the Society Six, Charlie Thompson and Choy Aming.

In 1953, Fermin started his own band. The band members were Cito on guitar, Asquith Clarke on piano, Jimsey Harewood on bongos, Makie Boyce on alto sax, Vernon Taitt on tenor sax, Laurice Elliot then Fred Callender on bass, Cecil Archer on congas and Wilkie Wilkenson on drums.

The band’s most famous playground was the Aquatic Club in Cocorite where they played every Sunday in a two to ten fete.

This fete was so well-known that party-goers referred to it as Sunday School.

During that time Fermin met his future wife, Grace, who passed away last year. They were married in 1952 and had five children.

The band began promoting their music on radio and as jobs started to come in, they worked at shows almost every weekend.

Fermin remembered one of the band’s most memorable moment was playing the opening of the Hilton Hotel.

The orchestra broke up in 1964, at a time when new types of music were becoming popular and interest in big band music began to wane.

“You do not hear ballroom music anymore, especially with the young people.

The truth is the best music anymore, especially with the young people.

The truth is the best music we ever had was old time music,” Fermin said.