The New Jersey-based Sunshine Awards Organization has joined Caribbean artists, friends, and family in paying glowing tributes to legendary Trinidadian-born bass player Don “Sunshine” Diaz.
Diaz died in Brooklyn on Jan. 28, in Brooklyn. He was 73.
“It was as if time itself stood still,” Gil Figaro, chairman and founder of the Sunshine Awards, told Caribbean Life on Sunday, March 15. “When word spread of the passing of legendary bass player, Don ‘Sunshine’ Diaz, a hush fell over the global music community.
“The announcement sent shockwaves through generations of musicians, artists, producers, and fans who had been touched — personally and professionally — by a man whose life was defined by music, kindness, and unwavering excellence,” added Figaro, who is also a song writer and producer. “’Sunshine’ was more than a masterful bass player; he was a cultural force.
“Exceptionally talented and endlessly creative, he traveled the world alongside the Calypso King of the World, Dr. Slinger Francisco, The Mighty Sparrow, helping to carry calypso and Soca music across continents and into the hearts of audiences worldwide,” Figaro continued. “His bass lines did more than anchor rhythms; they lifted melodies, shaped arrangements, and gave voice to a genre that speaks joy, resilience, unity, and truth.”
A steadfast supporter of the Sunshine Awards throughout the years, he said Sunshine “embodied the very mission of the institution: Excellence, legacy, and cultural preservation.”
Figaro said that, in 2011, Sunshine stood proudly to accept the Sunshine Awards Hall of Fame Induction on behalf of his late father, the legendary trumpeter Cyril Diaz, “honoring a lineage of musical greatness that continues to inspire generations.
“Those who knew Sunshine remember not only his brilliance, but his spirit,” Figaro said. “He was kind, generous, and deeply accommodating, often charitable with his time, wisdom, and encouragement.
“He believed profoundly that music is the international language, one that transcends borders, race, and color,” he added. “To Sunshine, the beauty of music was never defined by who played it, but by how it brought people together.”
Brooklyn resident Natasha Diaz, Sunshine’s daughter, said: “The world called him ‘Sunshine,’ and it could not have been more fitting.
“My father, Don M. Diaz, had a way of lighting up the world with his bass and our lives with his humility,” she added. “He moved through life without a need for the spotlight, showing me through his quiet strength that true talent does not need to brag.
“In the world of calypso, he provided the heartbeat, the steady bass line that everyone else danced to,” Natasha continued. “But, for me, he was simply daddy.”
She said she did not truly grasp the magnitude of her father’s footprints until she began traveling the world, “hearing the echoes of the music he helped build.
“He let his dedication speak for him, teaching me that greatness always requires sacrifice,” Natasha said. “In those last moments, he was not the world-renowned musician; he was just a father calling for his daughters and his grandbabies. I am, and will always be, my daddy’s girl.”
Trinidadian Trombonist Wayne Walcott said that Sunshine was both a dear friend and brother.
“He was a man of great kindness and generosity,” he said. “His creativity as a bass player not only enhanced melodies but also enriched entire arrangements. He will be deeply missed. May he rest in peace.”
Sparrow, who resides in Jamaica, Queens, said he was “truly shocked” and that “a deep emptiness followed”, he heard of Sunshine’s passing.
“He was not just a member of my band for many years—he was family,” he said. “I had the privilege of knowing his parents well, and it was clear where he inherited his remarkable character.
“Sunshine was one of the greatest bass players I have ever had the honor of working with,” the Mighty Sparrow added. “His unique style, combined with the way he embraced melodies, with such musicality, made him a bassist in high demand.
“We were all truly blessed by his talent and his presence,” he continued. “He will be deeply missed by everyone who had the joy of knowing him.”
Dr. Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool, co-founder of the Sunshine Awards Hall of Fame, said he knew Sunshine from his youth, and had the privilege of knowing his parents.
“He was a truly special and distinctive bass player, possessing a style that inspired countless performing artists,” Chalkdust said. “I will always remember him as a precious gift from our Good Lord, whose life and talent blessed us all.”
Trinidadian legendary music producer Joe Brown, who resides in Toronto, Canada, described Sunshine as “a man who consistently greeted others with a welcoming spirit.
“His nickname truly reflected the warmth of his character,” he said. “I never once saw him in anger, and his calm, gracious presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Renowned Jamaican-born saxophonist Charles Dougherty, a Brooklyn resident, said that he first met Sunshine Diaz over 30 years ago.
“He was a soft-spoken and gracious individual, always thoughtful and attentive to the well-being of others,” he said. “Known to us all as ‘Sunshine’, he was an exceptional musician who played the bass with unmistakable passion and groove.
“He will be deeply missed,” Dougherty added. “However, we take comfort in knowing that he is now playing his bass in Heaven alongside the many musicians who have gone before him. May God bless his soul.”
Renowned Vincentian-born, Caribbean musical arranger and keyboardist Frankie McIntosh, also a Brooklyn resident, tearfully recalled: “I feel privileged to have worked with Sunshine in the studio and on the road.
“In the studio he brought the ‘Sunshine Sound’ on the bass, which many performing artists requested,” McIntosh said. “On the road, his humble, jovial demeanor helped to ease tense moments.”
He added that, on his trips around the globe as keyboardist for the Mighty Sparrow, “Sunshine was always present with the bass; so many precious moments: in Ghana, Nigeria, Japan, Australia, London, and, of course, the Caribbean and North America.
“The music world has lost a beloved family member,” McIntosh continued. “May he walk with the ancestors!”
Trinidadian performing artist Keet “Designer” Styla, a Queens resident, characterized Sunshine as “the quintessential bandleader, musical director, and bassist within the calypso and Soca genres.
“He carried these roles with a calm, steady presence and a resonant musical authority that elevated every performance,” Styla said. “His influence, professionalism, and distinctive style will be deeply missed. May he rest in eternal peace!”
Trinidadian Debbie Haynes, a Long Island resident and another performing artist, said Sunshine was “a remarkably humble, talented man, blessed with a beautiful spirit that left a lasting impression on everyone.”
Errol Ince, a Trinidadian-born, world-renowned trumpeter, said Sunshine was “the finest calypso bass player” he ever knew.
“My very first recording was made possible through his father, the legendary Cyril Diaz, alongside the Mighty Sparrow,” Ince disclosed. “Over the many years we shared, our relationship was built on mutual respect, trust, and enduring values.
“I will miss him dearly,” he added. “May he rest in eternal peace!”
Renowned Trinidadian guitarist Larry Marsden, a Brooklyn resident, recalled that Sunshine led the Sunshine Band for 30 years, traveling the world with the Mighty Sparrow and sharing the rich sounds of calypso and Soca with global audiences.
“I was honored to work alongside him on many recording sessions,” he said. “He exceeded his life’s musical purpose while making the world a better place.
“And he will be deeply missed by the entire calypso fraternity,” Marsden added. “Safe travels, my friend.”
Figaro said: “As we reflect on the extraordinary life and legacy of Don ‘Sunshine’ Diaz, we pause to honor not only the music he gave to the world, but the profound human impact he leaves behind.
“With hearts full of gratitude and reverence, on behalf of the Sunshine Awards Organization and on my own behalf, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of Don ‘Sunshine’ Diaz, to his lifelong friends, musical colleagues, and to all those whose lives were enriched by his presence.
“The outpouring of love, remembrance, and reverence shared by his family and peers makes it unmistakably clear that his passing leaves an irreplaceable void in our world of music and in the hearts of all who knew him,” Figaro added. “Yet, even in our sorrow, we find strength in the legacy he leaves behind — a legacy built upon the courage, resilience, and excellence of those upon whose shoulders he stood, and one that will continue to guide and inspire generations to come.”
He said that Sunshine “lived his purpose with grace, humility, and unwavering devotion to his craft.
“His influence will remain a beacon for those who seek to create, to uplift, and to unite through music,” Figaro said. “Though his physical presence is gone, his spirit endures in every melody, every rhythm, and every life he touched. Sunshine’s music will live forever.”
