Soca artiste Rodney Le Blanc (Benjai) who has been enjoying a successful Carnival season with his hit song Trini, has made it to the semifinal round of the National Calypso Monarch competition after having entered for the first time ever. Le Blanc, who had been unaware of his advancement in the competition prior to a telephone call by the T&T Guardian, expressed his shock and elation at the news.
He said he was happy to have the opportunity to perform in the competition and called it an honour and a dream come true. "I am just thankful for the love and the vibes that the song has been getting from the the people and I am happy to be part of the competition." Le Blanc will join fellow soca artiste Dexter Stuart (Blaxx) as well as xalypsonians Weston Rawlins (Cro Cro) and Michael Osouna (Sugar Aloes) on Saturday as they compete for a place in the finals and an opportunity to take the crown from defending champion Kurt Alleyne.
The list of semifinalists were handed over to president of Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco) Lutalo Masimba (Brother Resistance) by judges at the Mas Camp Pub, Woodbrook, yesterday.
More than 500 calypsonians from T&T had entered the competition and it took adjudicators 12 days to decide on the 40 semifinalists.
The semifinalists for the Calypso Fiesta competition are as follows:
Alex Gift
Anthony Emrold Phillip (Brother Valentino)
Asten Isaac
Brian London
Cathrine Williams
Deneison Moses
Devon Seales
Dexter Parsons
Dexter Stuart (Blaxx)
Dillon Thomas
Eric Taylor (Pink Panther)
Errol Ballantyne (Bally)
Francine Edwards (Singing Francine)
Heather McIntosh
Hollis Liverpool (Chalkdust)
Joanne Rowley (Tigress)
Karen Eccles Thomas
Karene Asche
Kizzy Ruiz
Knolly Brown
Leslie Ann Ellis
Marsha Charles (Lady Adana)
Marva Joseph (Marvellous Marva)
Micheal Leggerton (Protector)
Michael Osouna (Sugar Aloes)
Moses Munroe (Xposer)
Neville Brown (Bunny B)
Nicole Thomas
Phillip Murray (Black Sage)
Rodney Le Blanc (Benjai)
Sean Daniel
Selvon Noel
Shanika Denoon
Sheldon Bullen
Tameika Darius
Victor McDonald (Mr Mac)
Weston Rawlins (Cro Cro)
Wilfred Barker (Young Creole)
Winston Noel (Daz)
Winston Scarborough (De Fosto)