Central Rainbow Calypso Stars Interviews

'Natural', 'Surpriser', 'Dr Martin' and 'Kinte'

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.

Arthur Mc David aka 'Natural'


Arthur Mc David

TRINISOCA: I am here with another one of the Calypsonians who performed here tonight. His real name is Arthur Mc David, but he is known in the Calypso world as 'Natural'. Tonight Mr. Mc David performed a song entitled, "Chinee Man Cyar Sing Soca".

TRINISOCA: Mr. Mc David, what inspired you to do this song?

NATURAL: We are a plural society and everybody did their part. But I noticed we do not have sufficient influences of the Chinese music in the Kaiso and Soca. I find the Chinese people are not coming forward. I also have some Chinese, African and other blood in me.

TRINISOCA: Do you have any advice for anybody out there who wants to venture into the Calypso arena?

NATURAL: Oh yes. It's all about living good. I think a lot about holistic eating. I try to plant for myself and eat what I plant. These days people are only buying things all about the place and they do not care about what they put into their bodies. I understand the generation that is coming up right now and what they are looking for. They actually tell me when they get old they want to be just like me. I told them I didn't know what is old and they are talking to the wrong person. I also exercise everyday. I was a Marathon Champion in Trinidad and Tobago in 1975. I walked from Fyzabad to Port of Spain in 935 minutes...fifty-two and a half miles. I am a champion in many other ways but my biggest championship is God. I believe in Jesus. With Jesus, once you are a good believer, you are a winner. You should put Him first and don't wait until you get hurt to call on Christ. Prepare yourself first. That is my thing to anybody.

TRINISOCA: Thank you sir.


Clevin Romero aka 'Surpriser'


Clevin Romero

TRINISOCA: This gentleman here with me is the very agile seventy-five year old Veteran in the Calypso arena. His name is Mr. Clevin Romero, better known as 'Surpriser'. Mr. Romero performed an interesting piece tonight entitled, "Leave the Salt".

TRINISOCA: Mr. Romero, how long have you been singing Calypso?

SUPRISER: I have been singing Calypso from a very young age. Right now I only sing during the Season. After the Season, I will do something else until the Season comes again. I really cannot live the Calypso life anymore. It is a very hard life to live.

TRINISOCA: Could you tell us a bit about your achievements in Calypso?

SUPRISER: In 1971, I was the South Calypso Monarch, I was also a Central Calypso Monarch for both Couva and Chaguanas from 1964 to 1968 and I also made the National Semi-finals in 1970 and 1971.

TRINISOCA: Do you have any advice for the younger people coming into Calypso?

SUPRISER: I believe Calypso is dying. You don't see the youths in the Calypso Tents. You will see them going to the Soca Monarch because they are into the "Jump and Wave" Soca music. I believe a time will come when the country would be longing to have our real culture.

TRINISOCA: What do you think can be done to bring back Calypso?

SUPRISER: I believe it's encouragement. There is hardly a Calypsonian who died and left something. They use the Calypsonians only for the Calypso Season. They give you all the encouragement and as soon as the Season is over they dump you. Things should be organized and put into place to keep the Calypsonians going even after the Season. That way they wouldn't have to depend on getting work outside. Only the lucky fella who goes to the Savannah after the Season would get a little something. Even the fella who wins the Monarch would get a little something. The fellas who didn't make it get left to suffer by the wayside. You also have to deal with the people who burn CD's on the computer when you make a little hit. Your music is playing but you have no money. These are the things that are really affecting the Calypsonians. TUCO have to do something soon.

TRINISOCA: Thank you sir.


'Dr Martin'


'Dr Martin'

TRINISOCA: I am standing here with Calypsonian 'Dr. Martin'. His performance tonight was entitled, "Aruba-Margarita".

TRINISOCA: 'Dr. Martin', how long have you been singing Calypso?

DR. MARTIN: I have been singing Calypso about thirty-two years now.

TRINISOCA: What influenced you to go into Calypso?

DR. MARTIN: I was a Pannist at one time. When I went to Canada the inspiration to sing came suddenly to me. I made a song and came third in the competition. I remained a few years in Calypso after that. In 1985 Sparrow, Blue Boy and Crazy came up to Canada to perform. Sparrow allowed me to perform at the time. When I went backstage Sparrow said to me, "You should never stop singing". I asked him why and he said, "You've got a good melody in you".

TRINISOCA: What is the difference between singing in Canada and singing here in Trinidad?

DR. MARTIN: You get a better vibe in Trinidad. You hear a lot of Calypsos on the radio and you hear great men sing. To me that is inspiring to be a better Calypsonian.

TRINISOCA: Do you have any words of advice?

DR. MARTIN: The youngsters should try and keep the culture going. We would love if they do that because Calypso is Trinidad.

TRINISOCA: Thank you sir.


Carey Stephens aka 'Kinte'


Carey Stephens

TRINISOCA: I am here with the final performer of the night, Mr. Carey Stephens. Mr. Stephens is also the co-founder of the Central Rainbow Calypso Stars Tent. His sobriquet is 'Kinte' and the song he performed tonight was called, "Indra & Jam ah Say"

TRINISOCA: How long have you been singing Calypso?

KINTE: I have been singing Calypso for more than twenty years now.

TRINISOCA: What influenced you to get into Calypso music?

KINTE: I always loved the art form. I was a dancer and then I got into writing and performing Calypsos. I do all the music, but for Carnival I concentrate on the festival music which we call "Party Songs". Out of the Carnival I do more relaxed Soca styles.

TRINISOCA: Do you have any words of advice for the people out there?

KINTE: Everyone should try and have a safe Carnival and try to visit the Rainbow Tent as often as possible, every Friday night.

TRINISOCA: Thank you sir.

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