On Tuesday morning at the close of the Tony and Greg Morning Express Show on Star 106.5 FM, the co-hosts paid tribute to the late Gary Davis of sports and music fame.
Tony and Greg signed off with Gary's excellent cover rendition of the Bee Gees' "First of May" classic.
One of the lyric lines of the song typifies how Gary lived.
"Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by ... " characterized Gary so very well.
He was never one to ask a lot of questions.
He just went about his undertaking, whether in the arena of sports or in a music environment on stage or in the studio.
Gary was an Olympic boxer (1972 in Munich, Germany), a reliable baseball player, a noteworthy distance runner and a highly efficient dog show trainer/handler.
He was a quiet star. He took his sub-par performances in stride and he was humble in success.
Whether his opponent was a future world champion or one not so destined, Gary Davis' demeanor remained much the same. Gary was joyful simply at doing the best job he could do.
His very slight physical make-up belied the boundless energy that enabled him to rise above the average level whenever he competed.
He loved boxing. His heart was very much into baseball. He thoroughly enjoyed the excitement of matching his distance running endurance against the others.
Ironically though, although he never quite admitted it, of all the sporting activities he engaged in during a full life, he seemed in the latter years to have a preference for training dogs and entering them in shows.
He told me that he "encountered no negative attitudes" in his dogs.
"They know when you are genuine. They have that keen sense that can easily determine sincerity.
"Once you are sincere with them, you've got a friend for life. I love working with dogs," said Gary in one of the very last conversations we had about a month ago.
A dog is said to be a man's best friend.
Gary was just like his canine buddies.
He was one of the finest friends a man could have. Folks here in The Bahamas and abroad will remember him that way.
His easy character marked the manner of the man. He played his music and interacted with his industry colleagues very much in the same way.
Whether on his beloved instrument, the guitar or on vocals, he was smooth in a masterly fashion. He moved from one stage of his life to another, gracefully.
With Godfrey "Gully" Deveaux, Lawrence "Makeba" Rolle, Marvin Henfield and Frankie "Zhivargo" Young, he was a part of the magical Blue Notes group.
His departure to head the group Gary Davis and the Vendors, was seamless. Nothing about Gary Davis was awkward.
He just eased along through life, leaving a really nice legacy that will be appreciated more and more as time passes by.
I extend condolences to Mrs. Gary Davis, the children and the rest of his immediate family.
May his soul forever rest in peace.
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