Ivor Lynch, one of Guyana’s renowned recording artistes who rocked the local scene in the early 1970’s, died at his US home on Monday night at the age of seventy four.
He had long suffered from diabetes and the effects of a kidney transplant he underwent two decades ago.
Lynch influenced music in Guyana having come from an era that included other top recording stalwarts like Johnny Braff, Mark Holder and Sammy Baksh.
Some of his local hits were: I’ll Keep My Fingers Crossed, Why Did I Leave You, Man In Love and Don’t Cut Your Nose. His songs belonged to the reggae and soca genres though back in the day it was an older version of Soca unlike today according to SSignal Productions producer, Bonny Alves.
Alves recounted that prior to the kickoff of the late singer’s career, he and his wife operated a grocery business which helped provide the finance for the recording of his album dubbed ‘Unlimited’.
After migrating to the States decades ago, he didn’t pursue music as much. He returned to Guyana on only two occasions, one of which was in 2014 when he
performed at the Night of the Legends Concert alongside other popular Guyanese artistes at the National Stadium.
Lynch was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution towards the Guyanese music industry by the Guyana American Heritage Foundation at the flag raising ceremony held at Orange County, New Jersey for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary.
Founder and president of the Guyana American Heritage Foundation, Lady Ira Lewis, said in a statement, that though his passing is a sad occasion she was happy to have presented Lynch with the award while he was still alive.
Meanwhile, Arrowhead singer, Courtney Noel, said he grew up hearing about Lynch from his mother who had taught the late singer when he was a boy. His songs, the Noel said, have influenced his own music career adding that he personally met Lynch when he sang at the Legends Concert. Noel further said that the late singer was someone who was encouraging and reminded him of the late American singer/songwriter, Bill Withers, with regard to how laid back he was as a gentleman.
