Date of birth: September 6, 1951
Place of birth: San Fernando, Trinidad
Lived abroad: Lived in Jamaica in 1985
Awards (as of March 2018): International Extempo Monarch (1990), International Humorous Calypso Monarch (1995)
Best songs/best-known songs: “Calypso Rising,” “Ramajay,” “Carnival Children,” “Ribbons”
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Individuals heard during the interview:
GB: G.B. Ballantyne
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the interview:
Bacchanal: public quarrel
Meh: my
Petrotrin: the state-owned oil company of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago]]>
Date of birth: October 20, 1952
Place of birth: Trinidad and Tobago
Lived abroad: since 1968 has divided time between U.S. and T&T, naturalized U.S. citizen
Awards (as of 2018): 1997 National Calypso Monarch, Nine times National Extempo Monarch
Best songs/best-known songs: “Sinkin’ Ship,” “Little Black Boy,” “Soca Train”
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Individuals heard during interview:
G: Gypsy
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the interview:
BG: British Guyana
Cobo: turkey vulture]]>
Other sobriquets/nicknames: Prince, Chicken Hawk (early)
Date of birth: December 22, 1950
Place of birth:
Awards (as of March 2018): Calypso Monarch National Semi-finals (twice), Humorous Calypso Finals
Best songs/best-known songs: “False Prophet,” “Heartless,” “De Gambler,” Animal Doctor,” “Ram Goat Mentality”
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Individuals heard during interview:
HP: Hindu Prince
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the interview:
Bulla: a gay man
Coki-eye: cockeyed, watching out of the corner of one’s eye
Doh: don’t
Dougla: an individual of African and Indian descent
Eh: ain’t, can also add emphasis at the end of a phrase
Kentucky: Kentucky Fried Chicken, popular American fast food chain in Trinidad. Prince’s reference to buying a song at Kentucky is a metaphor for singers who buy songs that are quickly produced and lack personality.
Lickrish: greedy
Mamaguy: a person who uses intimidating behavior to accomplish his or her objectives
Mih: my
Mihself: myself
Pukney: homemade gun (per Hindu Prince)
Sampat: an agreement (per Hindu Prince)
Sans humanite’: a traditional calypso melodic refrain, often used for extempo lyrics
UTT: University of Trinidad and Tobago
Whey: what, where ]]>
Other sobriquets/nicknames: Brother Superior, Superior, Supie, Uncle Supie
Date of birth: November 30, 1937
Place of birth: Rio Claro, Trinidad and Tobago
Lived abroad: lived in U.S. 1964-1970, naturalized U.S. citizen
Awards (as of March 2018): Southern Calypso Monarch, Hummingbird Medal (Silver), 2015,
Honorary Doctor of Letters (University of West Indies, St. Augustine), 2018
Best songs/best-known songs: “Brass Crown,” “Black Coffee,” “All African,” “San Fernando Carnival,”
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Individuals heard during the interview:
LS: Lord Superior
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions used in the transcript:
Ah: I
Meh: my]]>
Place of birth: Trinidad and Tobago
Awards (as of March 2018): NYAC Top Twenty Stars of Tomorrow, Best Family Song, 2008
Best songs/best-known songs: “Ready for the Truth,” “Thank God,” “Take One”
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Individuals heard during interview:
SB: Sharlan Bailey
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the interview:
Ah: I, a, or as an interjection: “ah!”
Crack-shot pannist—a steel band pannist who is exceptional
Dey: there
Doh: don’t
Eh: ain’t
Mih: me
Nuh: you know
Siddong: sit down
TTT: Trinidad and Tobago Television, television station]]>
Place of birth: Trou Macaque, Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago
Lived abroad: splits time between U.S. and T&T, naturalized U.S. citizen
Awards (as of March 2018): four times Calypso Queen, 1998-2001
Best songs/best-known songs: “Understanding,” “Teach the Youth,” “Casava”
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Individuals heard during the interview:
SH: Shirlane Hendrickson
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions used in the interview:
Extempo: a form of calypso in which two singers take turns insulting each other via extemporized verse set to an established melody, known traditionally as picong or “war”
Kaiso: calypso, a “kaiso kaiso” is a true calypso
Mih: my
Nuh: you know
Pan: steel band music. Refers to both the individual musical instruments and the music as a genre
Sans humanite’: a traditional calypso melodic refrain, often used for extempo lyrics
Soca: short for “soul calypso.” An up-tempo, dance-oriented style of music originating in Trinidad and Tobago. Soca lyrics generally relate to celebration, particularly Carnival. Soca is currently the most popular form of music in Trinidad and Tobago
TUCO: Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation, promotes calypso and calypsonians]]>
Date of birth: July 4, 1948
Place of birth: Pointe-a-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago
Awards (as of March 2018): National Extempo finalist (multiple years), Most Humorous Calypso, 2009 (for “De Infidel”)
Best songs/best-known songs: “The Law is an Ass,” “De Infidel”
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Individuals heard during the interview:
SP: Short Pants
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the transcript:
Knock on: to improvise on a musical instrument
Nuh: you know
Yuh: you’re]]>
Date of birth: May 17, 1976
Place of birth: San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
Awards (as of March 2018): Calypso Monarch semi-finals, 2008, 2018, Arouca Calypso Monarch, 2015, Chaguanas Calypso Monarch, 2009, Best Musical Director-Best Village competition, 2018
Best songs/best-known songs: “Man in Dat,” “The Whip”
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Individuals heard during interview:
S: SpiceY
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the interview:
APA: Academy for the Performing Arts, a school of the University of Trinidad and Tobago
Ah: I, I’m, or as an interjection: “Ah!”
Dey: there
Doh: don’t
Eh: ain’t, can also add emphasis at the end of a phrase
In two twos: very quickly, in no time at all
Meh: my
NAPA: National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Nuh: you know
UTT: University of Trinidad and Tobago
Whey: what, where
Yuh: you, you’re ]]>
Other sobriquets/nicknames: D. Surpriser, Mighty Surpriser, Scorpion (early)
Date of birth: February 24, 1931
Place of birth: Gran Lagun community, Mayaro, Trinidad and Tobago
Awards (as of March 2018): South Calypso King, 1971, National Calypso King Semi-Finals, 1970, 1971, Chaguanas Calypso King, four years (beginning in 1960’s), Couva Calypso King, three years
Best songs/best-known songs: “Old Age is a Disaster,” “De Lazy Villager,” “Leave D Salt”
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Individuals heard during the interview:
S: Surpriser
HM: Hunter Moore
CM: Carmsen Merrique (Surpriser’s daughter)
OM: Ozy Merrique (Supriser’s grandson)
RT: Ruth Telfer, a friend
ER: Elizabeth Ryan, a friend
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the interview:
Ah: I, I’m, a, or as an interjection: “ah!”
Dey: they
Doh: don’t
Eh: ain’t
Extempo: a form of calypso in which two singers take turns insulting each other via extemporized verse set to an established melody, known traditionally as picong or “war”
Mihself: myself
TUCO: Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Organisation, promotes calypso and calypsonians]]>
Other sobriquets/nicknames: Joker
Date of birth: August 15, 1943
Location of birth: Morne Diablo, Trinidad and Tobago
Awards (as of March 2018): Honorary Doctor of Letters (University of West Indies, St. Augustine), 2018, Honorary Distinguished Fellow, The Arts (University of Trinidad and Tobago), 2016, Hummingbird Medal (Silver), 2015
Best songs/best-known songs: “Progress,” “Saltfish,” “Phillip, My Dear,” “Steelband Woman,” “Capitalism Gone Mad,” “Say Say,” “Too Young to Soca,” and many, many others
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Individuals heard during the interview:
WD: Winsford Devine
GB: GB Ballantyne
HM: Hunter Moore
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Trinidad and Tobago terms and expressions as used in the interview:
Dey: there
Eh: ain’t,
Mih: my, I
Yuh: you]]>