Caiseys reunite for all-family concert

After a long hiatus, the musically talented Caisey Family are to make their return to the stage and this time, they’ll be out in full force.

Matriarch of the family June Caisey promises the show, titled The Gospel According to David, will be powerful and emotional.

The event comes together as June’s grandchildren Taitu  and Desta ‘Zion’ Wilson make their return to the island to perform the first full family show in six years . The reunion was the perfect excuse to celebrate. Some family members did perform a scaled down show in 2009. This one will feature gospel in the first half and gospel/reggae in the second, with intervals of dance and spoken word. 

June said: “This is first time the entire family, along with Zion and Taitu, are actually going to be together since Cinderella’s Ball at Hamilton Princess six years ago.

“I am blessed, I am excited and I am happy. 

“Many people have stopped several members of our family enquiring as to when they will be having another show. So here we are after a four-year-hiatus with a team of dedicated entertainers. 

“The show is called The Gospel According to David and it’s going to be gospel. David sang, David danced and David played the harp. He was one of God’s
children.”

A cappella groups Wild Honee and Present Truth will perform, Mitchell ‘Live Wire’ Trott is due to dance, Desta ‘Zion’ Wilson will perform various gospel and gospel/reggae songs while “prolific poetess” June Caisey will do some spoken word.  

“I will be doing God Why Did You Make Me Black?” she explained. There will be thunder and lightning effects and there will be dancing. 

“Wild Honee is coming back — they started 25 years ago right here [in City Hall] actually. 

“This is the first time all five members have been
together for many years. 

“Zion will start the show — there will be a male and female a cappella group in white robes. It’s going to be very emotional — I don’t know how the people are going to deal with it. The first half of the show is a tear-jerker.”

Benefit show

The Caisey family, in their 12th benefit show, will be accompanied by the ‘Caisey Family Band’ made up of James Richardson, Darius Richardson, Syd Simmons, Derek Simmons, Mike Payne and Leroy
Simmons.

The Caisey family are made up of Phiemma, June’s daughter who organized the upcoming show, Albert, Clinton, Taur, Desta ‘Zion’ Wilson, Mitchell ‘Live Wire’ Trott, Taitu, Keizia, Jevon and Devon.

Albert, the father of the family, now lives in California and will not make the show. 

June has a long history in music. She began singing at the age of just four in church and when she went to college in Canada she sang in the choir and danced.

She performed at the old Holiday Island Revue seven nights a week in a Cabaret show along with the likes of Gene Steede, Bill Caisey, and Eugene Ming. 

After the Revue, she and her now ex-husband Albert, formed a duo called
Al and June.

Then, daughter Phiemma joined and they renamed Just Blood. 

Phiemma and June also performed the restaurants and the old folks’ homes every second Sunday Packwood Home and Lefroy House. 

“My passion is acting and people and music,” said June. 

The Caiseys will donate all proceeds from the show to drug prevention charity Pride. “The reason why we picked Pride is that Bermuda is going through such a family crisis with drugs so we felt that Pride would be the best to benefit from our show. We give everything to charity. Come out and let your mind, body and soul be filled with positive thoughts for our future.”