IVOR CACHO = the smile + the tenor saxophone
~Will be absent Belize @41~
Teach, Cach, Cachin, Cachito, Cacho as he is lovingly called by those who know him well, has contributed immensely to the Belize music industry for over six decades (62 years), from the late 1950’s to present. He is gifted to play several musical instruments including, the guitar, recorder, keyboard, drums, marimba, alto and tenor saxophones. His most memorable and valuable moments were teaching the recorder to students of Stella Maris School in Belize City, prior to the pandemic.
Cachin has played with small, large as well as cultural bands all over Belize. He also represented outside of Belize, primarily in the United States (LA, New York, Chicago, Cayman), on multiple occasions. He did so with the Harmonettes and also the Lord Rhaburn Band. Under the tutelage and encouragement of Justo Apolonio, Cach first played all three positions of the Marimba (base, center and lead) with a band called Southern Star, in Punta Gorda (PG). Electrical instruments were introduced to the PG entertainment industry by the then two-time Area Representative Hon Charles Martinez (1965 & 1969); and with direction and guidance from Flavian Martinez, he quickly learnt the saxophone. He was invited to play with the Celestial Band of PG.
Cacho then moved on with the Munoz Brothers of PG and continued to perfect his skills in the tenor and alto saxophones, as well as other musical instruments. Other bands he has performed with over the years are: Super Furia Band, the Professionals, Santino’s Messengers, Morgan and the Impressions with Hannibal Morgan, Boom and Chime Band with Mr Peters, Kenny G with Kenny Morgan, the Imperial Band, Laruni Hati Cultural Band at their regular engagements at the Bradley Round House on the Barracks, in the mid-80’s. Presently, he plays with the Wageirale Band as a member for ten years. Also for nearly thirty years (1993), he has been an active civilian member of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) Band. Cacho also performs his musical ministry playing the keyboard, sax or guitar on a regular basis at the St. Joseph and St. Martin’s Churches in Belize City, as well as a well sought after soloist for special occasions at other churches and private events.
He was born Ivor Francisco Cacho on August 27, 1944 to Carlotta Mendez in Tiquisate, Guatemala; at a time when Guatemala was the diaspora for ambitious Belizeans during the heights of the banana industry there. At age 4 he was sent to PG, and with the nurturing of his maternal grandparents, Cacho was a member of the second batch of graduates from St Peter Claver in 1965. He immediately entered the teaching profession and taught at various villages in the Toledo district including, Pueblo Viejo, Crique Sarco, San Jose, and San Miguel. In 1966, he married Almira Lorenzo and together they have seven children. Five years later, he moved his family to Belize City for further education at the Belize Teachers’ College. He taught at Ladyville, St. Joseph and Holy Redeemer Schools until his retirement in 1999.
But Ivor Cacho’s heart is in making music, particularly using his tenor sax and guitar—And from this he has not retired. Currently, he is forced to take a brief hiatus due to injuries he received in a road traffic accident (RTA) on August 11, 2022. Cacho was a passenger in the bus transporting BDF personnel and civilians returning from the funeral of a fallen officer. He was with the BDF Band playing music for that funeral.
Cachin is in recovery mode from the injuries so sustained and forced to skip his participation as a musician during Belize’s September 2022 celebrations. This is probably for the first time in many decades. If I can hazard a guess, it is to say that after 30 years the BDF will miss his musical talents at the official ceremonies this year.
Thank you for your musical ministry my uncle. We pray for full and speedy recovery. Itara La!
The pics are not mine, borrowed from Google and other sources.
