Chalkdust is back home to defend Calypso Monarch title

SIX-TIME winner of the National Calypso Monarch title — the Mighty Chalkdust (Dr Hollis Liverpool) — is preparing to defend the title he won last year. “Chalkie,” as he is fondly called, took the title last year with his tunes, “Trinidad in the Cemetery” and “Fish-mongering.” Speaking from his home in The Virgin Islands, Chalkie revealed the names of his new tunes for the Big Yard — “I In Town Too Long and Ah Doh Rhyme.” In his first tune, he suggests, that no one could dupe him because “he in town for too long” and in his second song deals with the crime situation in the country.

While scores of calypsonians have been enjoying a rewarding Carnival season at the various tents throughout TT, Chalkie is currently lecturing at the University of the Virgin Islands where he is an associate professor. Chalkie arrived late yesterday in order to prepare for rehearsals with the orchestra. However, his input in the 2005 Carnival got off  to a good start with his first ever pan-song entitled, Pan Have We DNA, which was recorded at the Sure Sound Studio. The song features the talent of veteran pan soloist Earl Brooks.

In an earlier report, Chalkie said he was inspired to compose a song for pan after hearing of Pan Trinbago’s decision to allow steelbands participating in this year’s Panorama to play selections from previous years. Chalkie told Newsday that he has kept his stage performances alive by performing in many shows in the Virgin Islands. “I am quite popular here.  “They know me as the Monarch from Trinidad and the Singing Professor,” he said. Among the singers who will be taking on Chalkie on competition night at the Queen’s Park Savannah, are: Sandra Des Vinges — Millington (Singing Sandra), Michael O Suna (Sugar Aloes), Weston Rawlins (Cro Cro), Carlos James (Skatie), Brian London, Devon Seales, Allan  Fortune (Brother Mudadda) Winston Scarborough (De Fosto), Lesley Ann Ellis, Roger Mohammed, and Franz Lambkin (De Lamo). Chalkdust has won a total of six Calypso Monarch titles.

The other five are — 1976 (“Three Blind Mice” and “Ah Put on Meh Guns Again”); 1977 (“Juba Dubai” and “Shango Vision”); 1981 (“Ah Can’t Make” and “My Kind of Worry”); 1989 (“Chauffeur Wanted” and “Carnival Is the Answer”); 1993 (“Kaiso Sick in de Hospital”; and “Misconception”).