Johnny, a mentor to young stars

He was ready to go, said his niece Debbie Vieira, who had been caring for Gonsalves at her Miami home.

“It was amazing. He died peacefully.

He was ready to go and wanted us to let him go,” Vieira told Sunday Newsday yesterday.

Gonsalves was the creative director of Jogo Productions Ltd, Tobago Graphic Design, a former judge on Digicel Rising Stars reality TV show, and music producer with the band, 2nd Imij.

Those who loved him dearly kept company with him until he took his last breath. They included Gonsalves’ life-long partner Amado Duerte, sister Janet de Lima, niece Sharon Fitzwilliam, great nieces Kristyn and Amanda Vieira, brother-in-law Alfonso de Lima, friend Christian Grini, Vieira and her husband Bernard.

“He was surrounded with a lot of love and caring. We gave everything he wanted in his last days. He was happy on his last day,” his partner Duerte told Sunday Newsday.

One of Gonsalves’ last postings on his facebook (fb) page was “Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want...” on March 29, at 10.01 am.

The night before he posted: “Don’t forget to THANK GOD for keeping you safe through the night and every time you awaken to see a beautiful new day! Dear God, grant me the strength to be content where I am. The patience to wait on your timing, and the faith to remember that you have your hand always on my heart.

Say ‘Amen’ if you pray this!” On December 12, 2015, Gonsalves underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his pancreas and his spleen. Vieira said said his funeral will take place on a Monday but a date is still to be chosen.

Digicel’s head of communications Penny Gomez said Gonsalves will be missed and spoke of his role in Rising Stars, beginning as member of the inaugural judging panel in 2006.

“He will be remembered as being a stickler for professionalism and driving the budding artistes to aspire to excellence in his role and judge and mentor on the reality TV show. His judging style was always focused on the development of the budding star along with a clear position on whether the talent was present or not. He was careful not to dash hopes but firm in his decision,” she said.

Even so, Gomez said Gonsalves had a keen sense of humour and was charming.

“Off the stage Johnny was a nurturer to so many in the music industry – his willingness to share his wisdom and knowledge of his craft with others in the hope that it would inspire them to greater heights was outstanding.

Gonsalves’ friend and fellow musician Joey Ng Wai, musical director of Imij & Co, expressing his grief in a Facebook post said, “I hate you cancer!” Ng Wai later told Sunday Newsday of his last meeting with Gonsalves when visited him in Miami last week.

“We had so many stories to touch on and he was totally coherent, and his memory was crystal clear. We spoke of the band and my (deceased) dad (George Ng Wai)....but he was a man who had battled a good fight and was wearing thin, however his pain was controlled. He wanted so much for every one.” Ng Wai said it was hard to see Gonsalves in a declining state. “It was like a bullet ripping through me. It was very hard to see my best friend in pain,” he said.

Ng Wai and Gonsalves’ friendship and musical partnership date back to 1985 to 1987 when they started the band Frantic then 2nd Imij from 1989-1994, before Gonsalves moved on to his own company Jogo Productions.

“There was nothing that he didn’t excel in. And he had so much more to share in the business, especially for the young people and that is where the industry would have lost,” said Ng Wai.

Entertainer Denyse Plummer said Gonsalves could never say no to anyone.

“He has been a friend of mine for over 30 years. I am so saddened.

He messaged me only last week to offer condolences to me on the passing of my sister, Arlene.

He will be so missed.” Music producer Carl Beaver Henderson, in his tribute said, “Another soldier has gone.” Many music personalities shared their thoughts of Facebook.

Radio station owner and producer Tony Chow Lin On posted: “Pioneer, music man, gentle soul.

Fly high my brother, thank you.” Radio host Junior Saldenah posted: “This one is for you...

Bro...RIP..we will miss you....

famileeeeeeee.” Attached to that message was Anthony Ventura- Fernando’s 1978 version of Don’t cry for me Argentina on youtube.

Calypsonian David Rudder described Gonsalves as a gentleman.

“I worked with him on a Christmas album and he was such a nice person and a good soul,” Rudder sang Go Tell It On the Mountain on the Christmas On the Hill (My Christmas) album by Johnny Gonsalves & Friends.

Other artistes on the album included Nigel Ferreira, Gillian Sheppard De Gannes, Michael Zoom Salloum & H2O Phlo, Machel Montano and Ray Holman.

The Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts also hailed Gonsalves contribution to the music industry.

“We are deeply saddened at the news of the passing of musician and producer Johnny Gonsalves Since the 90s Gonsalves distinguished himself as a musician and producer with Jogo Productions and 2nd Imij. Our condolences to his friends and family in life and music.”