Sunday Evet at CMCA Offers Retrospective of 'Blinky' McIntosh

Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts on Strand Street in Frederiksted will host a retrospective on the life and times of St. Croix’s musical icon Sylvester “Blinky” McIntosh at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

The St. Croix community is invited to join in the celebration of its musical legend, who organizers called a loving husband, proud father and an unforgettable presence in the Virgin Islands.

“Even if you don’t know his music, or if you don’t know him, you knew him because he was Blinky,” said his daughter Christine. “He was an icon, a presence. Everyone knew Blinky. That was my dad!”

McIntosh was born in Frederiksted Aug. 17, 1934. His father was a musician who played many instruments and taught his son to play the saxophone. His mother was a cariso singer, who learned from her mother. His grandmother taught McIntosh cariso, a precursor to quelbe – the roots of his songs.

The event is sponsored by Clean Sweep Frederiksted, Three Islands Media and CMCArts.