Support for Calypso absent out of season – ‘Ras Kelly’

Williams said there is no support for Calypso outside the season
Williams said there is no support for Calypso outside the season

President of the Dominica Calypso Association Kelly “Ras Kelly” Williams has said the association has not been successful in hosting calypso events out of season due to lack of finances and the lack of support from patrons.

Williams made that statement while addressing the Launch of the Dominica ‘Kaiso’ Calypso Hall of Fame 2016 at the UWI Auditorium on Thursday.

“Organizing is one, it cost money and unfortunately, Dominica is so traditional that when it is in season, it is in season,” he explained. “Sometimes we even go as far as saying Dominicans don’t like calypso, they like the calypso competition, and if it is not the competition, you don’t see them.”

According to him, quite a few people ended up in debt, “trying to prove us wrong when we say out of season, people are just not interested” in calypso outside the season.

Williams revealed that attempts have been made to host calypso out of season but they were not successful.

“The band cannot get paid, calypsonians cannot get paid,” he stated. “The situation in Dominica especially when you go out of town, everywhere. You would probably be able to hold a show, there is a bar serving inside and outside, people stay outside buy from the bar and enjoy the show outside, and then you can’t pay the transportation, you can’t pay the band, you can’t pay anybody.”

Furthermore, he stated that people show more interest for the competition than Calypso itself.

“So if it’s not a competition, the crowds are not there and all you end up with is debt…otherwise, we would want to have a calypso show every month end,” Williams said.

Four Dominicans, Patrick “Pembo” Pemberton, Osborn “Ossie” Lewis, Kelly “Ras Kelly” Williams and Roosevelt “Mico” Williams and legendary Calypsonian, Slinger ‘Mighty Sparrow’ Fransisco, will be inducted in the Hall of Fame.

The conferment ceremony, which takes place every four years, will be held on Friday, January 29, 2016, at the Fort Young Hotel.

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10 Comments

  1. Crab and Manicou Hunter
    January 9, 2016

    In addition to a good venue with sound proofing, the lyrical content does not lend itself to year round air play. I remember two rounds of performance for each performer. Round one is something political or social commentary and round two is the dance or party type song. Lyrics and melody is something entirely different. Arrangement is also key. We have a ways to go.

  2. REASONING
    January 8, 2016

    Shut lost ghost,your sellout!You can’t even sing again,cause you can’t sing truth anymore! :?:

  3. DIMWIT
    January 7, 2016

    I haven’t heard any good song for the season. Have you.?

  4. Thanks
    January 7, 2016

    Don’t you already know the answer to your question! Every aspect of our culture politics is being induced into it. Don’t blame the patrons, give us the music and we will be there. Raise the bar and standards. At one time DA enjoyed a big revolution in calypso and cadence. We had music to dance with, what happen to the STARS, ROUGH AND READY, WCK, FIRST SERRINADE ETC. None of our pioneers sang political songs, point the finger at PAT ARRON and his cohort for killing calypso. Continue with your political vendetta and the final nails will be in the coffin. I will NOT pay my money to listen to dirt and mud slinging. In the past 10 years tell us one song that hit the international scene. How many of Monsanto songs has politics! There is a time and place for everything.

  5. CIA on the Watch
    January 7, 2016

    Off course if you do nothing the support for calypso out of season will not be present. October was Calypso History Month what did you guys did in observation? NOTHING. Ghost interest is in pushing Labar party Agenda on kairi not Calypso.

  6. SN
    January 7, 2016

    Calypso does not attract an audience out of Carnival season because the lyrics and musical arrangement of calypso leave much to be desired. Most of the calypsonians sing songs that only sound good to drunk people. Also, venue is another impediment. With no enclosed, sound-proof venue, there is no incentive for people to purchase tickets to the show when they can hear and enjoy the music, if at all, from the outside. With an enclosed, sound-proof venue, no outside bars would be permitted, so not only will ticket sales be profitable, so too would be concession sales. Of paramount importance, however, is the need for elevation in the standard of calypso. Everything else will flow from that.

    • Shaka Zulu
      January 8, 2016

      Agreed. The kind of crap we have for road march each year.

  7. verna
    January 7, 2016

    my bro Ras. it’s your regime which has made a dismal impact on the economy thus lack of spin offs…why don’t u ask them to sell two diplomatic passports, would surely help the cause in a worthy way….

    but sadly you’ll aren’t able to think along any critical lines of development..
    that’s why dominica is considered the fools paradise..

    • Original Mahaut Man
      January 7, 2016

      you are the Biggest FOOL.

  8. Tjebe Fort
    January 7, 2016

    But of course calypso is seasonal brother Ras. Why are you making such a noise about that?
    You are not selling Easter eggs at Christmas or do you? Nature have its rhythm and so does calypso. If you can not make money out of season I would say you are foolish even to try that when customers’ reaction alone already tells you it does not work. Leave that alone and don’t blame anyone but yourself. Good luck anyway.

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