WELL-KNOWN calypsonian Geofrey Phillips better known as ‘Mighty Rebel’ succumbed on Thursday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he was a patient over the past two weeks.

His health took a turn for the worse while he was at his Good Intent, West Bank Demerara home, prompting his family to take him to the GPHC for attention.
There, medical professionals diagnosed his condition as critical.
Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on behalf of the family, Raelene Phillips said her father passed away at about 05:45hrs on Thursday.
She related that in 2015, he suffered a mild stroke and having regained strength, he walked a bit on his own then on April 5, 2018 he experienced intense bleeding.
At that time, the father of 10 was hospitalised for about two weeks and was later discharged but he never regained the use of his legs and was bed-ridden.
Phillips said her family cared for him at home but realised his health was deteriorating rapidly because of his diabetic and hypertensive conditions.
She said last week Thursday, he was scheduled for his clinic day at GPHC and her mother, Juliette Statia-Phillips requested that he be admitted having learnt that he was suffering from kidney failure.

On Thursday, he died while receiving medical attention.
Phillips said her father was a very principled man and a true role model when it comes to his family which includes three daughters and seven sons.
She said her dad was very passionate about his music and the calypso art form. He enjoyed song writing, speaking to schoolchildren and was a true entertainer who loved competing in calypso competitions.
In Phillips’ home, the walls were decorated with many trophies, his photos and other prizes he won during his competing days.
His red motorcar, PGG 1375 was still parked in front of his house on Thursday when this newspaper visited.
Phillips entertained Guyanese and others further afield for decades with his innovative, tantalising and thought-provoking calypsoes. His stage name ‘Mighty Rebel’ became a household name.
When he was on stage he was not only an entertainer but an artiste who took pride in his costumes and the way he looked, often leaving the audience thirsty for his songs and performance.
In his career, he was considered the king of calypso and the only calypsoian who won the crown six times.
Rebel’s winning songs include his 1988 hit ‘Second hand’; 1993 ‘Desi You Wrong’; 1997 ‘Political Lie’; 2001 ‘Ask de President’; 2007 ‘Is We Put You Deh’; and 2010 ‘All Awee Know De Man’.

As news of the passing of Mighty Rebel spread throughout Guyana, many took to their Facebook page, expressing great sorrow, reflecting on his career and music and offering condolences to his family on Thursday.
‘Sincere condolences to family, friends, and the music fraternity, on the passing of Geofrey Phillips aka ‘Mighty Rebel’. Lots of memories to reflect on having toured with him as part of the Cassbo group. Sleep on my friend, and may God grant you eternal rest,” fellow entertainer Compton Coody Hodges said.

Desiree Edghill, theatre personality and AIDS awareness advocate, said, “The ‘Mighty Rebel’ is no longer with us. He will be singing in heaven. The ‘Second Hand’ Man. Rest in Peace, dear son of the soil.”
Kester Deane stated, “You (Rebel) made your contribution….Thanks for your service.
My condolences to his daughter and the rest of his family members and friends. Rest in peace General.”