Remembering Keith 'Mystic' Squires: Former Calypsonian, Teacher, and Sing Out Barbados Member Dies at 68

Tributes poured in for former calypsonian, teacher and long-time member of Sing Out Barbados, Keith ‘Mystic’ Squires, who died on Friday morning.

President of the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artists (BACA), Colin Spencer, was among the entertainers who expressed his condolences to the singer’s family.

“BACA would like to extend sincere condolences to his immediate family and close friends. As a member of the creative fraternity, his passing is a significant loss to the cultural landscape of Barbados,” Spencer said in a statement.

After news spread early Friday that the 68-year-old died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital following an illness, many people shared kind words and offered their condolences on social media.

Squires celebrated his 68th birthday last month.

During his years in the folk group, Squires served in many ways including as executive director.

In addition to his contributions to the group, he was also an actor, took part in productions such as Bimshire, and was a member of Rontana Dance Group.

He was the coordinator for the entertainment segment of Bridgetown Market for a few years.

Squires worked at The St Leonard’s Boys School and Combermere School for many years and also served there as Sergeant Major in the Barbados Cadet Corp.

One of his close friends who asked not to be identified described him as fun-loving and said he was well-loved by many including his students.

“He was a teacher. He was very pleasant and easy to work with. He was one of those teachers whose students would have been happy to see them. He and his students got along quite well, he was a people’s person,” the friend said. (TG)