The T&T World Wide Cultural and Sporting Alliance Inc, headed by Carol L Leggett, and its members, in conjunction with the T&T Consulate in New York hosted Boston's first calypso tent on July 5, at Lombardo's Club in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
The show featured T&T's 2014 National Calypso Monarch Roderick "Chucky" Gordon; Tuco's representative Shirlaine Hendrickson; comedian Damien Melville; Boston's Kolors Band vocalist R'Kardo St Von; 5 Star Rhythm Band; calypso competitors Daren Trotman, Mighty Parable and Michelle Francis; and DJs Mr C and Kenny Douglas of Black Star International.
The national anthems of the USA and T&T were sung by Boston parliamentarian Oswald Fitzpatrick. T&T Consul General Rudrawatee Nan Ramgoolam brought greetings and congratulated the organising body. She highlighted that the progressive movement of the art form of calypso is heavily dependent on the education of the music form and the proper dissemination of its history globally.
Hendrickson brought greetings on behalf of Tuco and said the event represented a historical premise from the first commercial calypso tent–the Railway Douglas Tent which opened in the 1920s, to the present. She also did a dynamic performance of her 2014 Panorama song Excitement, which was played by Massy Trinidad All Stars.
Serving as emcee, Melville kept the audience in stitches with his comedic interludes. St Von sang jazzy versions of past calypso hits and which were well-received by the audience.
The Kolors Band and the 5 Star Rhythm Band of Boston each did two repertoires and had people dancing on the floor.
Calypsonians the Mighty Parable and Michelle Francis did not disappoint but by the judges review, the Mighty Parable had the edge with his dramatic performance of his own composition entitled Caisosis.
Chucky did a royal performance singing from his repertoire which included his 2014 winning song Wah Yuh Think, Bear With Me–which won him the Independence Calypso title, Penguin's Slippers and Sparrow's Lying Excuses. He closed the show majestically bringing the audience to its feet on the dance floor.
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