Grande calypso icons to feature in show

Some of them will be featured in a special show on April 29, titled Calypso Icons of Grande, at the North Eastern College, Sangre Grande, from 7.30 pm. Producer Frank Martineau says the show promises to be special.

On the bill are Scrunter (Irwin Reyes Johnson), Johnny King (Johnson King), Poser (Sylvester Lockhart) and Pink Panther (Eric Taylor), with special guest Baron (Timothy Watkins).

Scrunter has been performing for over 40 years and won the Calypso Monarch in 1982 with Ah Lick-E-Ting and the classic, The Will.

Apart from his many hits in the parang soca genre, his soca hits include the classic Woman on the Bass, Take the Number, Sing in She Party, Oil in the Coil, Gimme It Just So and Ah See Yuh.

Though he was born in Tobago, Johnny King has made Sangre Grande his home for many years.

He first entered the calypso arena in 1980, and over the years, had become known for his insightful and thoughtful lyrics, especially in gems such as Nature’s Plan, Appreciation, War Mongers, Ole Man Ketch Yuhself and his mega hit Wet Meh Down. A now-retired policeman, he has been a finalist many times in the Calypso Monarch competition and is well known for his performances at home and abroad.

Poser is from the village of Matura and won the Sangre Grande Calypso Monarch crown for five consecutive years before moving on to competitions in Port-of- Spain. Among his hits are Ah Tell She, which went on to win Road March in 1979, Town Man, Party Tonight and Bus Conductor.

Pink Panther, renowned for his well-tailored pink suits, after the cartoon character of the same name has a funny story to tell about how he got his start at the Kalypso Revue tent, where he has been a staple for several years.

He remembers he was invited there to try out by his brother calypsonian Scrunter, as they were both Grande boys, However, the tent manager, the now deceased Jazzy Pantin did not like his song, We Ketching We Tail, and turned him down.

It was the founder of the tent, Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts, who took Pink Panther under his wing after chatting with him and realising he’d composed his song and beaten Scrunter with it in the Grande competition.

He recalls many Sunday sessions honing the craft of calypso at Kitchener’s home, Rainorama, in Diego Martin. He also credits reigning Calypso Monarch Chalkdust (Hollis Liverpool) with being another of his mentors.

Panther is known for his satirical, social and political commentary Laughing In De Ghetto.