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NACC's Veterans Calypso Prize-Giving 2007
Anthony 'Allrounder' Hendrickson, Diane 'Lady Wonder' Hendrickson-Jones
and Makandal Daaga
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: March 11, 2007
Posted: March 14, 2007
The N.A.C.C. Veterans Calypso Competition prize-giving ceremony took place on the cool evening of Sunday 11th March, 2007. The winners and other guests were present since the late morning period for some friendly chitchat, but the awards were not given until around 2p.m.
The event was quite informal and all were seated in a circular fashion within the blue walls of the N.J.A.C. headquarters. This added to the feeling of all being part of a family gathering.
Makandal Daaga thanked the gathering for coming and meeting in such a familial and comfortable environment, reminiscent of years past when Calypsonians would come together and bond frequently outside formal settings. Mr. Daaga expressed that meetings like this were special for him and wished that it could have been more frequent, like on a monthly basis, if it were not for the money factor. He reassured the veteran Calypsonians that he and the N.A.C.C. loved them a lot and that they would continue to search for ways for musicians, such as Calypsonians, brass players and Pan players, to meet on other bases.
Mr. Daaga told the gathering filled with Trinidad and Tobago's musical icons that he doesn't feel the veterans competition was a competition per se but an opportunity for them educate people, especially the young people, as to what Calypso is about. He even mentioned that sometimes the Calypso may not be the best written song but the advantage that the veterans have over the younger ones is their ability to express themselves well on stage and connect with their audience.
The 'Chief' also mentioned that the young ones need to see Calypsonians prosper for them to be attracted to the art form. If not, they would be more inclined to other music like Soca and Reggae where they see greater opportunity to economically prosper. It is in this regard that the N.A.C.C. has tried and would continue to try to ensure that Calypso is a lucrative art form apart from it being an educational and developmental tool.
The distribution of prizes was next on the agenda and each awardee was asked to tell a story of themselves and of some experience that made a lasting imprint on their minds. Although some were very brief, others took the opportunity to tell their stories. Below are some extracts of the Calypso veterans:
Sylvester 'Poser' Lockhart - "I would like to praise 'Allrounder' for the great work that he has done...Thank you to the N.A.C.C. for a job well done."
Lutalo 'Brother Resistance' Masimba - "Kaiso is a spiritual music and I want to thank the N.A.C.C. for keeping the spirit alive."
Winston 'Explainer' Henry - "There was a time when Soca music made us believe that Calypso was becoming extinct but the N.A.C.C. had a way to bring in the youths and save the music. Thank you Mr. Daaga and all else for the work that you do."
Mark 'Contender' John - "I appreciate being in this forum among brothers and sisters who are doing their best for Calypso. I knew Daaga for a long time and always supported him through the times, including the movement in the 1970's. Mr. Daaga, continue what you are doing for the culture."
Emrold 'Brother Valentino' Phillip - "The Chief [Daaga] is one of the most inspirational people that I know and I am proud to be associated with this organisation."
Mr. Godfrey Greenidge of the Earl Knight and Services Brass band - "I feel very proud when I go on stage and perform with these great Calypsonians. People may not remember but Daaga was involved in the Calypso way back during the late '60s, early '70s. It was he who introduced the idea of having Calypsonians in concert where they would not just sing a song and walk off but would have to talk and relate to their audience and be on stage for as long as two hours. Thank you Mr. Dagga and the N.A.C.C. for giving me the privilege to continue the work that I love."
Donrick 'Funny' Williamson - "Let me introduce myself, I am funny" (laughter from the gathering). "An experience in 1970 that has stayed with me - I was hoarse and couldn't sing a word and I was carded to sing at a tent. You know, when I went on stage and the music played, and I signaled to the audience that I couldn't sing, you know they start singing the song ... and they encore me about five, six times! When they had called me back they told me to dance and they encored that too! This happened for four nights straight. Thank you N.A.C.C. and continue the good work."
Anthony 'Allrounder' Hendrickson - "Thank you Mr. Daaga, Mrs. Daaga...Before I started Calypso as you all know, I used to sell fish down by the George Street Market, what is now the Central Market. There was a day when I went to the barber shop in town and I saw a baldhead man sitting on the chair waiting to get his hair cut. So I extempore telling the barber that the man should get half-price. The man asked me, 'You like to sing Calypso, boy?' I told him, 'Yes,' and I talking fresh because you know back in those days I was young and fresh-up. You know, and to my surprise that man was Kitchener. It was then and through him that I was introduced to the Calypso arena."
The Veterans who were awarded that evening are as follows:
Place / Veteran Calypsonian / Calypso
1st / Anthony 'Allrounder' Hendrickson / "Calypsonians Tongue Tied" and "Talking Baby"
2nd / Donrick 'Funny' Williamson / "No Means No" and "Hokey Pokey"
3rd / Alan 'Brother Mudada' Fortune / "Everliving Calypso" and "Ah Want a Song"
4th / Francine 'Singing Francine ' Edwards / "Method of Approach" and "Cultural Controversy"
5th / Emrold 'Brother Valentino' Phillip / "Pioneers" and "Dis Place Nice"
6th / Mark 'Contender' John / "Let the War Continue" and "Karate"
7th (tie) / Winston 'Explainer' Henry / "The Government" and "The World is a Jungle"
7th / Wellington 'King Wellington' Quashie / "The Problem Is" and "Brass"
Other Calypsonians who were also awarded for their efforts were: Sonny 'Mighty Power' Francois, Kenroy 'Black Prince' Smith and one half of the dynamic duo, Regeneration Now.
The band for Kings Go Forth 2007, Earl Knight and Services Brass band, was also honored and given cash prizes. The musicians are as follows:
Instrument / Musician
Trumphet / Carlos Hepburn
Trumphet / Charles Williams
Saxophone / Godfrey Greenidge
Saxophone / Andre Telesford
Saxophone / Earl Knight
Trombone / Norris Samuel
Keyboard / Darryl Daniel
Guitar / Kyle Peters
Brass / Kayden Guy
Timbales / Hayden Arthur
Congas / Michael Gritchlow
Drum / Anthony Simeon
After an evening of refamiliarizing themselves on a casual basis with a bit of 'piconging' here and there, the day ended with a lovely meal of some home cooked Creole food.
NACC Veterans Calypso Prize-Giving 2007 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=68276
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