Talented parang group Los Amigos de Musica treats the crowd to local parang renditions at the annual Parang Soca Christmas Food Festival in Salybia, held on December 12. The group is made up of visually impaired persons.

At last weekend’s Annual Parang Soca Christmas Food Festival in Salybia, with music flowing like water, one group of paranderos proved particularly special, distinguishing themselves with the beauty of their music. They call themselves Los Amigos de Musica (friends of music)—and they are truly unique. No ordinary parang band, the members of Los Amigos de Musica are all visually impaired people, who, by the way, can sing their heads off.

The twelve-member band, which was formed 19 years ago with 15 members, is still going strong. During an interview, the group’s musical director Anthony Tom, better known as radio personality Storming Tom, said the group got it’s first big gig “as a parang side” when they performed many years ago at the annual children’s Christmas party at Calderon’s Big Yard in Arima. “This was our first real gig. Before, we just used to go around performing at office parties and other small events,” he said. Since their big break, they have been a hit with public offices, performing at many Christmas events each year.

Los Amigos de Musica’s musical director, Anthony Tom (Storming Tom), in studio conducting his shift.

Challenges
Tom, who is also visually impaired, said the group is often stigmatised because it is made up of visually impaired persons.
“I don’t know why, but people somehow believe that because we are blind we can’t really do anything well, so we’re seen as a joke. But it’s only when they see and hear us perform they learn to respect us because we give our best.” Tom said that many times they do feel at a disadvantage when promoters try to beat them down on their asking price to perform because they are blind. “We give them a full band and a full performance, so we should be treated fairly,” he asserted. Tom said the group plans to eventually travel regionally and internationally to wow crowds across the globe. As the group’s musical director, he wishes to expand the group in the new year and to develop a music programme for people musically inclined to assist the group in becoming more self sufficient.

Blindness: No stumbling block
With complete certainty in his voice, Tom said he cannot afford to let blindness be a stumbling block. “Once there are things to do and it can be done, then you can do it,” he quipped. He leaves these words for anyone who looks down on the blind: “Don’t turn a blind eye on us because we are blind. We lack sight...not vision.”

To get in contact with the group, call
Anthony Tom at 681-2094,
Shurwayne Phillip at 718-5815 or
Ken Downer at 391-1150.