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Central Rainbow Calypso Stars Tent
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Central Rainbow Calypso Stars Interviews
'Bokie', 'Sackarine' and 'Santa'
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Interview Recorded: January 27, 2006
Tonight we are at the Central Rainbow Calypso Stars Tent in Chaguanas where the Calypso Stars have come to entertain and be judged for the Semi-finals of the Calypso Monarch Competition. This Tent which was launched on December 12th is in its second straight year at the Chaguanas Community Centre. Managed with the assistance of the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) and other corporate sponsors, Central Rainbow Stars proudly operates with a full cast. The cast includes a number of long-standing performers as well as newcomers. However, on this particular night, the Tent will be hosting the Hard Core Kaiso 2006 Competition. This Competition will be the first to be visited by judges for the Semi-finals of the Calypso Monarch Competition which would be held in Skinner's Park Savannah in San Fernando.
Horace Cyrus aka 'Bokie'
Horace Cyrus
TRINISOCA: Calypsonian 'Bokie' is here with me now and he has just finished his performance. His full name is Horace Cyrus and his rendition tonight was entitled, "The Big Giveaway".
TRINISOCA: Mr. Cyrus, how long have you been singing Calypso?
BOKIE: I have been singing Calypso for about twenty years now. I sang in various places but it's only been two years since I have been singing in a Tent.
TRINISOCA: Why did you choose to sing Calypso?
BOKIE: Because Calypso is my thing...is we thing. I also write Calypso for big bands and big artistes.
TRINISOCA: How has your experience been in Calypso?
BOKIE: It has been a very good experience. I like the art form.
TRINISOCA: What do you think this art form can do for people coming into it?
BOKIE: I think the youths should get involved in Calypso. It will give them an avenue to get off the streets and put their brain to work. They cannot just jump straight into Calypso. They have to be able to create a good story in order to do a good Kaiso. The youths could make Calypso instead of doing crime.
TRINISOCA: Thank you sir.
Clarence Butler aka 'Sackarine'
Clarence Butler
TRINISOCA: I am chatting now with Mr. Clarence Butler, better known as 'Sackarine'. Tonight Mr. Butler performed a song entitled, "A Recipe for Crime".
TRINISOCA: Mr. Butler, what inspired you to sing this song?
SACKARINE: Too much crime is taking place in the country and I feel I have the recipe for the crime.
TRINISOCA: How long have you been singing Calypso?
SACKARINE: I have been singing Calypso for about thirty-five years now.
TRINISOCA: What influenced you to go into Calypso?
SACKARINE: The late 'Maestro' influenced me to go into Calypso. He was my mentor. One day he said to me, "You have a good voice. Instead of only writing, why don't you try and sing"? I used to write songs and give them away to my friends and school children. I still enjoy doing that. When I decided to try Maestro's suggestion, I went to Kitchener's Tent for the first time. That night the late 'Maestro' was going to sing a big song entitled "Black Identity". He told the manager he would not sing unless I was given a chance to sing. I got my chance and I never turned back. That was a big break for me.
TRINISOCA: What do you think about the diversions of the Calypso art form?
SACKARINE: You will always get a diversion in the art form because you have people who like Soca and you have people who will come to hear Traditional Calypso. The Traditional Calypso has to stay because it is the foundation of Calypso. Soca has only been around from since in the days of Lord Shorty. The diversion will stay; nobody can stop it. To say that Soca will throw out Calypso is a waste of time. That cannot happen at all. Calypso is here to stay and Soca has its part to play.
TRINISOCA: Thank you.
Lewis Williams aka 'Santa'
Lewis Williams
TRINISOCA: I am now here with one of the leaders in the Tent, Mr. Lewis Williams. Mr. Williams is also known in the Calypso arena as 'Santa'. The song he performed tonight was entitled, "Tribute to the 4 Kings".
TRINISOCA: Mr. Williams, how long have you been in the Calypso business?
SANTA: I have been in the Calypso business since in 1971. I am also one of the most versatile entertainers in the country. I was a limbo dancer, bottle dancer, fire eater, human pincushion, razor blade eater, acrobat and dramatist.
TRINISOCA: This is the second year that the Tent is here. Tell me a bit about the experience.
SANTA: For some reason we are not getting any help from the people in the area; it's a strange thing.
TRINISOCA: What do you think TUCO can do to improve that situation?
SANTA: I was invited to a meeting with other Calypsonians but a lot of people didn't show up. I am concerned about the significant sum of money they say they got and yet offering me such a small amount. In other words you are telling me to 'haul my backside'. The major Tents who really do not need the money are getting more... plus a culture programme. We need the help. We want the Tent to go on because we love the art form. This is not the first Tent. We also had one in 1996.There was a guy by the name of Tony who helped me. He rented chairs and he brought in the PA system and so on. Tony was from San Juan, behind the market. The area of itself was not favorable because fellas were smoking their thing and pipers were hanging around. We didn't get the support we wanted because of that. We had a Sunday morning. It was a really nice programme that ran for four hours. I remember one day Marcia Miranda came in unexpectedly with some singers and she took the microphone from me and said, "Big up 'Santa', Big up 'Santa'." She knew I was always pushing for the culture. If these people want us to make it they have to spend some money. There is enough money for all.
TRINISOCA: What is your vision for the Central Rainbow Stars Calypso Tent?
SANTA: It was always my ambition to have the biggest Tent in Trinidad. I feel that will happen in the next two or three years. I am certain that there are people who will want to come in with me.
TRINISOCA: Thank you sir.
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