Barbados Mourns Death of Founding Member of Merrymen Group

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister Mia Mottley Friday led the tributes for Sir Charles Emile Straker, “one of our greatest cultural sons,”  who has died on Friday. He was 90 years old. The cause of death has not been made public.

Emile Straker (File Photo)“Early this morning, Barbados awoke to the deeply sad news that Sir Charles Emile Straker, one of our greatest cultural sons and the golden voice of The Merrymen, has gone home,” Mottley wrote, adding “for generations, Sir Emile gave us more than melodies. He gave Barbados a feeling”.

She said through songs such as “Beautiful Barbados,” “Nut Seller,” “Big Bamboo,” “Sam Lord,” “You Sweeten Me” and so many others, he captured Bajan life and Barbadiana with humour, warmth, pride and an unmistakable joy that brought people together – locals, visitors, and Barbadians wherever they were in the world.

“He helped make Barbados matter far beyond our shores. Before hashtags, campaigns and global platforms, Sir Emile and The Merrymen were taking our island to the world on hotel stages, in concert halls, on records carried home by tourists, and in the hearts of people who returned to Barbados because his music made them feel they already belonged.”

Sir Charles, who was knighted in 2019, published his autobiography in 2023, titled “My Island and Me”  and Mottley said his recognition as Knight of St. Andrew “was a proud and fitting national embrace of a man whose gift had long been one of Barbados’ greatest honours.

“Today, as we mourn with his children Dean, Ray and Stacey-Jane, his grandchildren, relatives, friends, bandmates, and all who loved him, we give thanks for a life that sweetened Barbados and made the world sing along.”

Sir Emile’s death follows that of Robin Hunte, the tenor guitarist, who died from cancer, on August 24, 2015 and Chris Gibbs, the bass guitarist and one of four original members, who in 2003 became the first person from a Caribbean country to swim the English Channel. He died from cancer at 80 on June 17, 2025.

The other members of the group, Stephen Fields, guitarist, has dementia, while Willie Kerr, guitarist, and Peter Roett, drummer, periodically perform with other local acts in Barbados.