innis_francis@yahoo.com
National Calypso Monarch 2020 Terri Lyons has created a platform to help fellow calypsonians who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and the shutdown of the entertainment industry.
She recently hosted a virtual concert, Me, Myself and I, at the WACK 90.1 FM studio in San Fernando, which was live-streamed on Facebook and Instagram.
During the show, Lyons appealed to viewers to make cash contributions or share the live link on social media platforms.
“A little goes a long way,” she said.
During the three-hour concert, Lyons stepped out of her calypso and soca roots and displayed her versatility with her renditions of Dawn Penn’s reggae classic No No No, Cynthia Schloss’ Send Me the Pillow and Barbara Jones’ Young Love.
The show’s host, comedienne Gillian Smith, keeping things lively.
Innis Francis
She also paid homage to calypso icons when she sang Shadow’s Looking for Horn, Baron’s Somebody, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires Tiny Winey, and Brother Marvin’s Jahaji Bhai, in addition to her hits De Love Still Dey, Doh Judge Meh, Wine Like Yuh Mean and I Am Lion.
“This is to raise money to assist my fellow calypsonians who were affected by the pandemic last year and into this year. We are at a time where entertainment has not been happening in T&T.
“These are hard times and everybody is feeling it, we have to support each other. We have to be in the sharing mood,” Lyons said.
She added that more than 50 hampers were being prepared for calypsonians who have not been able to earn an income due to the pandemic and encouraged the audience to continue making contributions after the concert, through Paypal and YouTube accounts.
Terri Lyons delivering one of her calypso hits
Innis Francis