Who IS Fitzroy Gordon?

 

I had the opportunity to meet and interview Fitzroy Gordon (MISTER Gordon, as I like to call him; Fitz or Fitzroy as he insists upon being called) several years ago during a Toronto Summer Festival.

 

My Community Producer pointed me in Mr. Gordon's direction and said, "That's Fitzroy Gordon. We've GOT to get his interview!"

 

I had no idea toward whom I was pointed because I had NO IDEA who this man was, I was in apparent need of interviewing.

 

"Who?" I hissed over my shoulder?"

 

To my dismay, the Community Producer seemed to have vanished into thin air amongst the bustle of backstage talent and organizers. "What does he LOOK LIKE?" I hollered to the blend of faces.

 

"He has on the blue dress shirt!" was the reply from a disembodied voice.

 

I boldly continued my walk in the direction I was pointed and hoped an 'older' man (my assumption based upon the three second bio I was whispered before being shoved into never land), wearing a blue dress shirt, would appear before me.

 

Shockingly, appeared before me, he did. He was like a vision that swam into view from a sea of T-shirts and army fatigue. Except HE was not the senior man I expected to see in a dress shirt and dress pants. Fitzroy Gordon was a strikingly tall,  YOUTHFUL looking man, wearing a blue dress shirt - as I was correctly informed - that hung, UN TUCKED, over his jeans!

 

Slap my face. I did not know WHAT to think.

 

Few men are taller than I am. THIS man forced me to look up a good several inches.

 

"Mr. Gordon!" I called, thrusting my microphone into his face. "Sophia Mazurek. Caribbean Headline News. May I trouble you for a moment of your time?"

 

His look of appraisal was daunting. I assumed he was as surprised by my 5'10" stance, amongst a group no taller than a 5'7" average, as I was by him. His mouth dropped open into an exhuberant laugh, and he extended his right arm which swept me between it and his right side - it was like a brilliant dance move (as an ex dancer, I say so with NO exaggeration).

 

"Trouble? Why it's no trouble at all!" was the last thing I recall him saying, that day.

 

I know I asked questions and he answered with the charm and silk tongue of a pied piper.

I do recall his flattery regarding my reporting. And I also recall my surprise at the seemingly quick end to our interview.

 

Not only was I breathless from our informative exchange, I was DUELY impressed. Impressed, by this man's

wit, charm and enthusiasm - but more importantly, I was in impressed by his vision.

 

ELEVEN years to accomplish his dream. Never once, by his own admission, giving up on his daunting task.

 

 

Before the launch of CARN 98.7 fm I had the privilege of a second interview as well as the honour of meeting some 98.7 staff and Mrs Gordon (the interview took place hours before her baby shower). I am a tad embarrassed to say our interview ran long and Mister Gordon insisted upon the producer and myself joining the

festivities. What an experience it was.

 

One would expect a staff act intimidated by a man so single minded and

driven. Instead, we met a team that was like family; teasing "Fitzroy" for his difficulty with

sitting down and doing nothing. But, once the food was sorted, sit down, he did- with his lovely bride.

He was attentive and gentle like many expecting fathers who's wives suddenly became made of egg shells.

 

As I watched the interaction between Mister Gordon and his wife, I considered his words during our interview, earlier.

I had asked him what he had to say to those family and friends whom had left him due to the stress and strain

of his magnanimous, decade long, struggle. His contemplative silence left me apprehensive. I shall always remember his reflective consideration which seemed to stretch on forever. Finally, he looked at the camera. It was as if I, the community producer, the walls of the office in which we spoke - everything - had fallen away. "All is forgiven." He had said. "Come home, anytime."

 

To whom he had spoken, I do not know. But, I felt as though I had intruded upon two peoples' private moment.

 

I wondered how I would have reacted had my husband, father, best friend come up with a cockameme idea, few even contemplated let alone attempted. I don't know WHAT I would have done under those circumstances, but, as I witnessed Mister Gordon with his wife and new team so many years later, I am certain those people... want to KICK THEM SELVES! Particularly as, on October 21, 2014, little more than three years after the success of Mister Gordon's Caribbean radio station - complete with unabashed  church ties - rumblings of a Black and Caribbean National Television NETWORK materialized into a media release, and an open invitation to investors.

 

Like everyone, I wait with anticipation to see what the television station (scheduled to begin broadcasting later this year!) will look like and accomplish. Imagine, a television stations dedicated to Black and Caribbean  sitcoms, movies, drama series,  documentaries, news, sports, talk shows, religious programs, tourism, festivals, carnivals,  weather reports, cooking and music shows. What an EXCITING opportunity for Black artists - finally! One of the reasons, I left the entertainment industry is, there were not enough opportunities available for me and the THREE, already established Black, female actors.

 

Young talent of today will have an ENTIRELY different experience from mine. Thanks to the perseverance of Fitzroy Gordon.

 

Wow, Mister Gordon, a job well done - for a young awkward boy raised by his grandmother.