Some of the country's finest amateur calypsonians will be on show on Sunday when Vintage Kaiso Brigade stages its first Corporate King of Kings Calypso competition at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain, from 6 pm. The event is the brainchild of calypso and cultural icons Brother Superior (Andrew Marcano) and Mervyn Telfer and will see 18 singers, all monarchs of their respective companies vying for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Reigning National Calypso Monarch Karen Asche, junior National Monarch Aaron Duncan, as well as National Extempo champion Sheldon John and multiple QPCC monarch Wayne "Doppy" Dopson, who is now attached to the tent, will all make guest appearances.
Brother Superior revealed that contestants have been hard at practise over the past two weeks and he expects a wonderful evening of top class calypsoes, since all the contestants were deserving champions. "The wonderful thing about this group is that they have all been supportive of each other. "For them, this is not only about winning a competition, it is an opportunity to make new friends. "There is a tremendous amount of camaraderie which augurs well for the competition. When a contestant is finished with his or her rehearsal, there is a lot of applause and advice as to how his or her performance could be improved. They look after each other." Superior said he had been playing with the idea of staging the show for sometime since there are "too many" good calypsoes which do not make it to the tent and are lost after the season.
"These corporate champions are the best singers in their companies. They have the best songs at the amateur level. From what I have heard, some of them could easily make it to a tent. It would be a shame if year after year, we continue to allow their songs to waste." Seven women are among the 18 contestants. They are Sharon Francis, Lindsey Hay, Kristina Alexander, Khadija Antoine, Georgiana McFarlane, Claire Williams and Anne Marie Clarke Thomas. Among the sponsors are: First Citizens, Tuco, NLCB, Boom Champion 94.1F.M, Power 102 FM, Our TV Channel 4, Ministry of Arts & Multiculturalism, Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre.
•Tickets available at Crosbys (north and south), NAPA Box office, First Citizens or call 222-7596 or 764-1583.
Finalists & Songs
• Sharon Francis (Ministry of Housing) - Ah Leader is Ah Leader
• Lindsey Hay (Republic Bank)
• Kristina "Lady Shay" Alexander (Ministry of Sport) - Last Letter
• Khadija Antoine (T&TEC) - Is We
• Georgiana McFarlane (Port-of-Spain City Corporation) - The Retreat
• Claire Williams (Ministry of Energy) - Granny's Perspective
• Anne Marie Clarke Thomas (Central Bank) - Let's Move on
• Ryan Innis (Angostura) - Music
• Valentino Singh (ANSA McAL) - The Race Myth
• Stanley Adams (Rhand Credit Union) - Protected by the Law
• Levi Dick (Atlantic LNG) - Pressure
• Kevaughn Medine (NLCB) - War
• Brent Frederick (Ministry of Arts & Multiculturalism) -Minimum
• Anthony Guerra (WASA) - The Controllers
• Rodney Cyrus (Ministry of Works) - It's hard to get back (A tribute to Sir Ellis Clarke)
• Kenneth Phillips (QPCC) - The Spirit of T&T
• Patrick Johnson (Petrotrin) - Ah Better Song
• Damien Torres (Amchan) - Crisis in C's