A group of calypsonians will join forces to celebrate the memory of their late colleague, Dennis Franklin Williams, known in the fraternity as The Merchant. The event carded for Tuesday, is being hosted by the South Central Zone of The Trinbago Unified Calypsonian Organisation (Tuco), as part of its observance of Calypso History Month. Tuco has dubbed October as Calypso History Month and a number of events are carded to take place throughout the different zones to pay tribute to the art and its icons. The month-long observance was launched on September 26 with a religious service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-of-Spain.
Chairman, Steve Pascall better known as calypsonian Ras Kommanda, said they selected to pay tribute to Merchant because of his extensive repertoire. "Last year during Calypso History Month, we paid tribute to the father of Soca Ras Shorty I. "This year we chose Merchant who was one of the most prolific composers of our time.
"Calypsonians such as Crazy, Baron, the Mighty Trini, Explainer, Young Designer, Sugar Aloes, Mighty Poser and many others have benefited from his remarkable gift. "Yet, we feel enough is not being done to celebrate this son posthumously. Tuco South, therefore, feels a sense of pride to undertake this project," Kommanda said in an interview yesterday.
Kommanda will join fellow calypsonians Luta, Mighty Trini, Joseph Adams, Lady Adanna, Nikko, Mr Mack, El Drago and Abbi Blackman to perform a selection from one of Merchant's extensive repertoire. The tribute will take place at WACK 90.1 FM Conference Room, Coffee Street, San Fernando between 9 pm 12 midnight. The organisation has also invited Ruthlyn Boxhill (who was Merchant's companion) and their son Nesta Boxhill, as well as Alvin Daniel to speak about the life and times of the late calypso icon.
