Chalkdust seeks funds for Brigo concert

And he is hoping that generous benefactors will come on board to help stage the concert, which is expected to cost approximately $100,000. The sum, Liverpool said, will include rentals for chairs, sound system, advertisements and payments for artistes and band members.

“I am depending on sponsors to see if we can really bring this thing off,” Liverpool said.

Liverpool, known to the calypso world as Chalkdust, is also hoping that the concert will be held before Calypso History Month in October.

It’s all part of the Save the Calypso series, which was conceptualised by former president and associate provost at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Prof Kenneth Ramchand several years ago to celebrate the contributions of calypsonians and musicians.

Liverpool, who is also Professor of Carnival Arts in the UTT’s Academy of Arts, Letters, Culture and Public Affairs, said the Save the Calypso series has already honoured the late Kelvin Pope (Mighty Duke); Dillary Scott (Mighty Cypher); Fred Mitchell (Composer) and musician Ed Watson.

“We have gotten people to play their music and sing their calypsoes. The calypsonians being honoured also get a monetary reward of at least $100,000 and a plaque,” he said.

Liverpool noted, however, that the economic downturn had forced UTT to cut back significantly on its expenses.

“The money for the calypsonians was given by the board of the UTT, but now there is some financial pressure because the board depends on the Government.

So I am depending upon sponsors to see if they can continue it.” Abraham, 77, died on May 16, reportedly from complications relating to Alzheimer’s disease.

Apart from his riveting social commentaries, Abraham was famous for his facial contortions on the Det insecticide advertisement, many years ago.

Shortly after his death, he was honoured by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation in a special tribute held at the Kaiso Blues Café, Newtown.

One of Abraham’s sons, Catholic priest Fr Bonnie Abraham, who officiated at his funeral, has since vowed to preserve his father’s legacy and that of other ailing artistes through the establishment of the Brigo Cultural Centre.

Liverpool told Sunday Newsday that plans to stage a concert for Brigo were in the making long before his death.

“We had already named the songs and Errol Ince had already done all of the music with the songs. It is important to show Brigo’s work, especially for the schoolchildren.” Should a sponsor decide to assist with the project, Liverpool said organisers may also consider paying tribute to the late Gaston Nunes (Smiley) and Emrold Anthony Phillip (Valentino) at the same concert to save money. In previous years, the tributes would have been done separately.

Liverpool said honouring the legacies of the country’s cultural exponents was critical to the survival of the artforms.

“When we had done Duke’s show, hundreds of people did not know that Duke did all those songs,” he said. “When people got to realise his contribution, which we analysed in song, people were able to follow it on our power point presentation.

And we also got people to talk about the songs and his work.” Liverpool said the trend of celebrating artistes only when they have died must be stopped.

“We don’t wait until they die to deliver a eulogy. We must deliver living eulogies about the person.

“For example, someone may do something about an entertainer and his music and find out why he used certain chords and why he used certain words in his songs. So we deliver living eulogies of the artiste. We don’t wait until they die to do so.