Kaiso Hall of Fame to concentrate on female calypso pioneers

Dominica's first female calypso monarch Tasha P

The Dominica Calypso “Kaiso” Hall of Fame event of February 9, 2012 will concentrate on the female Calypso Pioneers, and as such will be dubbed, the special ‘Feminine Gala Hall of Fame Event’.

We are of the firm view that women have made significant contribution(s) to the structure of the art form on the island, and with the crowning of Tasha Peltier (Tasha P) as Dominica’s first ever female Calypso Monarch, this is a one-off event to mark this ground breaking feat.

The authorities met at the Garraway Hotel in Dominica on Saturday November 5 and deliberated on candidates submitted for consideration in the following categories of honor: (1) Hall of Fame Inductee (2) Hall of Fame Recognition Award, and (3) Honorary mention.

The individual(s) chosen to be inducted into the Dominica Calypso/Kaiso Hall of Fame attained an appreciable review in the following set area, or criteria as dictated by the Dominica Calypso “Kaiso” Hall of Fame, as relates to the development and practice of “Calypso”.

(1)    Longevity/Consistency
(2)    Achievement(s)
(a)    Calypso Monarchy
(b)    Road March Titles
(c)    National and Regional Kaiso/Soca Crowns, awards and recognition.
(d)    Junior Kaiso Titles
(e)    Kaiso Industries
(f)    Academic and Cultural accomplishment(s)
(g)    Business and Commerce with relations to Kaiso or Soca.
(h)    Teaching of the Kaiso art form
(i)    Promotion  of the art form of Kaiso
(j)    Support to the art form

(3)    Overall impact on Humanity

(a) How recognizable is the candidate(s)
(b) Song(s) of the ages, especially if materials are written, composed,
arranged, produced and performed by the individual calypsonian.
(c) Dedication to the arts and integrity in the practice of Kaiso.
(d) Has the individual impacted or changed the art form (positively) in
any way
(e) New creations or standards set (cite examples)

The candidates who were confirmed are:

Hall of Fame Inductee(s):

1.    Swinging Stars Band
2.    Clive “Hurricane” Jean-Jacques
3.    Vaughn “King Shakey” James
4.    Pat “Musician” Aaron
5.    Gregg “Breaker” Bannis

Hall of Fame Recognition Award:

1.    Urban Harrigan
2.    Bernard “Rabbit” Alexander
3.    Tasha “Tasha P” Peltier

Honorary Mention:

1.    June “Sandy” Norde
2.    Juliana “Jah Lee” Alfred
3.    Myrtle “Yakima” Massicott
4.    Edna “Lady Edna” Laronde
5.    Tarina “Tarina” Simon

The 2012 Hall of Fame adjudicators were, Ossie Lewis, Alvin Knight, Edgar Hunter, Daryl Bobb and Alex Bruno – Coordinator.

A Hall of Fame Concert, featuring the Swing Stars and the other inductees/awardees will be held at the Harlem Plaza on Saturday February 11, 2012 from 9:00pm.  The concert, unlike the Hall of Fame event, is a paying event and will be offered to the public at $30.00, with a $20.00 early bird introductory offer on advanced ticket purchase.  Proceeds go towards defraying the cost of hosting the event(s).  The next such event (Dominica Calypso “Kaiso” Hall of Fame & Concert) will be held in 2016.

The first Dominica Calypso “Kaiso” Hall of Fame Ceremony was held in 2008.

Following the first meeting of the adjudicators, Ossie Lewis, Patrick Pemberton, Edgar Hunter and Alex Bruno held on Saturday 23rd August 2008 at 10:00am at the offices of PAWOL Media Consultancy, the following individuals were nominated and accepted for induction in the Dominica Calypso “Kaiso” Hall of Fame:

(1)    Norman Cyrille (NC)
(2)    Roland James (Spider)
(3)    Hayden Desire (Tokyo)
(4)    Ulrick Jackson (Idol)
(5)    Melvin Constant (Solo)

Herman “Spark” James was later added to the list of inductees, upon the insistence of Norman Cyrille (NC).

The ceremony was held on October 24, 2008 at the Fort Young Hotel and this function was be followed by a Pioneers of Dominica calypso Concert on Saturday October 25, at The Newtown Savannah at 8:00pm.

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50 Comments

  1. k
    January 7, 2012

    well well well…this is just very sad to me…i applaud the effort being made to recorgnize the women but why is it that some get it and some done.No offense to Tarina she is an excellent singer but can she be called a calypsonian or is it Calypso we are praising her for because if i am correct she sang calypso for about 3 years and just STOPPED….what love or loyalty does that show to the arena..and artform. and i mean she came first runner up a number of women did that so what is the praise for. duchess dominated the junior calypso granted she had alot more experience and practice than the others but she shone above all in that field…Lady star was 17 a college student when she made the finals her first year singing peace in the world and has been here year after year with very good compositions and sounding like a true calypsonian yet her name is not there. tarina 3 years Lady star 7…is is because tarina came first runner up..or she won digicel rising star during her calypso time….this is just not right. WHEN TRUE CALYPSONIANS WHO SING ON THE ISSUE WITH EXPRESSION LIKE LADY STAR leaves the artfom because she is fed up of being disrespected i hope no one says she was ungrateful. i have seen years where she could have emerged in the top 4 yet she gets no praises…but you are a star lady and you will continue to shine…looking forward to hearing you this year.

  2. SARITA
    January 6, 2012

    ALLU CANA REMEBER DAT CROWN WINNING MASTERPIECE ?

    I CAN….’MARRIAGE TODAY IS A RISK”

    FANTA PAN PLAYED THAT AT HER WEEDING IN THE OLD CANEFIELD CHURCH…BIG UP FANTA PAN ….AND CANFIELD MASSIVE…

    • DON C
      January 11, 2012

      DONCE
      WHER FANTA PAN COMIN IN THERE

      YOU KNOW HOW TO STRECTH IT NEXT FING U ADDING CHOCOLATE COUNTY

  3. SARITA
    January 6, 2012

    AND IS PATRICK JOHN THAT USE TO WRITE FOR HER MERRIDITH NOT N.C…..PATRICK AND RANDY FATHER….DENISE JOSEPH…..

  4. SARITA
    January 6, 2012

    I YOUNGER THAN ALEX AND I KNOW ABOUT JULIA….HAIL FROM THE FAMILY OF GOLDEN VOICES (AGNES ARON)….

    HAUSERMAN!!! BANANA…NOW OR NEVER…..GENERAL NATTY! SUPER L!!!!!!!!

    • DON C
      January 11, 2012

      AARON>>>>JULIA PAT SLY AGNES ETC DEM PEOPLE ARE FROM HARLEM

      PUT DAT IN U CAR-CAR HOLE LOL AND SMOKE IT

      ME DAY-BAR

  5. SARITA
    January 6, 2012

    EXCUSE US…..CAULIFLOWER! JENNIFER JOHN…HAILS FROM CANEFIELD……

    AND JALI WAS THE FIRST OUT OF GRANDBAY…..BASKET BALLCOURT….

    SHE MADE WAY FOR WOMAN TO HAVE THEIR OWN TING……SHE SANG…”WOMAN DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN TING’

    CHECKER!!!!!!,MAN HIMSELF,DINO!DBS!N.C!BRAKES!SPENCER (MR.CASTLE)……

    • DON C
      January 11, 2012

      YAH PUT D WHOLE LIME TELEPHONE DIRECTORY SORT

  6. WIKEDNESS
    January 6, 2012

    VERY UNPOPULAR CHOICES INDEED

    CHECK OUT BOB AND GO BACK TO D DRAWING BOARD

    BUT TELL ME SOMETHING SO LONG BOB SINGING CALYPSO AND HE HAS A UWI DEGREE AND I SURE HE HAS SANG MORE SONGS DAN SHAKEY AND I HOPE ITS NOT BECAUSE ONE IS A DOCTOR AND D OTHER IS LESSER QUALIFIED THAT BOB DIDNT MAKE IT ?

    BUT YEAR IN YEAR OUT IS BOB WE HEARING

    SO IF SHAKEY MADE IT WHY NOT BOB DATS HOW INCONSISTENT WE ARE

    • SARITA
      January 6, 2012

      BOB?????? AH-WHA! WEE!

      MR.SHOULD GO BACK AND SING WITH EFFECTS…..PRESENTATION IN KAISO IS 10% OF THE SCORES…..

      SUPER L! NEIEGHBOUR TO BOB….RIVERSIDE APPARTMENT…NOW THERE’S A LEGEND…SHOW AND DANCE…MASTER PERFORMER….LYRICS AND MELODY FLOWING LIKE TOWER IN T.O lol…..

    • Calypso Historian
      January 7, 2012

      Hey, Wikedness: You seem to have a real problem with Shakey being inducted into the Hall of Fame. I’m sure Shakey can speak for himself, but as a fan and a lover of Dominica calypso I must respond to your vitriol. Shakey burst on the scene as a junior calyspsonian in 1973. Thirty-nine (39) years later, he is still writing, singing and performing calypso. In 1978, when the Patrick John government had conspired to shut down Dominica calypso, the calypsonians unanimously elected the 17-year-old King Shakey as president of the revamped Dominica Calypso Association. Shakey and the executive — men and women like Robin, Zeye, Spider, Havis Shillingford, Lucia Blaize, and Joan Moise, among others — negotiated the storms and brought calypso back to the airwaves and to the hearts of the people. So today if we have a Caypso Association, it is right that we recognize the man that got us here. Sure, Shakey has gone on to great things, but for me he earned his place in the Hall of Fame by winning three junior calypso crowns and three senior crowns, being the first president of the Calypso Association, being the first Dominican calypsonian to have a song that topped the charts on several Caribbean radio stations, and also being the leader of the albeit short-lived Caribbean Calypso Association (formed in Antigua in July 1979). So Wikedness, before you spread your vitriol, and Newtown, before you join him/her, get your facts straight. I’m sure many other calypsonians will eventually be inducted into the Hall, but I am pleased with all those inducted in 2008, and those being inducted this year. The selction panel did a great job.

      • true patriot
        February 10, 2012

        I AGREE WITH YOU HISTORIAN. NOBODY WILL KNOW OF THE GREAT DEEDS OF SHAKEY BECAUSE HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HUMBLE PERSON. THANKS FOR GIVING ALL THE FACTS. THE MAN DESERVES HIS AWARD. EVEN ALMOST FORTY YEARS LATER THE MAN’S SONGS CAN STILL SHAKE A CROWD.

  7. SUSANA ROLLE
    January 6, 2012

    JULIA ARRON SHUDE BE INDUCTED

    BUT ALEX MAY NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE BRING A LITTLE LOVE

    SHE IS PAT ARRON SISTER BABY SISTER DAMN

    • Alex Bruno
      January 6, 2012

      Hey,

      I appreciate all the concerns. I/we in deed know about Julia and all the other girls/women who have taken part in DA Calypso, and they shall be recognized at the Hall of Fame. But they cannot all make the cut. I would personally love to place them in their own hall of fame, but we cannot separate the sexes. We have made it our business to know everything there is to know about Calypso, so please, if you find that we are short on information, don’t hesitate to educate us. I am as open as it gets, no one person can know it all, but we at least made the effort.
      Thanks

      • SARITA
        January 6, 2012

        HI ALEX :)

        Don’t feel like this is a personal attack.

        We are all just very pationate about kais…at least i am…and this is’nt about a hall of fame…some of the names just made personal impacts on our lives and for us we will always remember them…Julia like Jali,like Hauserman were ‘ONE HIT WONDERS’ and so i don’t expect them to be among the reings of “HURICANE AND N.C AND HAXEY AND RABIT..” But this topic floods us with memories of Kaiso…especially when where up NORTH…freezing…waiting for eliminations to warm our souls….
        Kaiso lovers will always have their favourites…hey…tha’ts what makes it exciting…cheers and kind regards for a great 2012 particularly in the areas of HEALTH and good old WEALTH!!!

    • true patriot
      February 10, 2012

      AREN’T WE TALKING ABOUT CALYPSO HERE? TO ME i CAN’T REMEMBER JULIA AARON AS EVER BEING A CALYPSONIAN. PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME

    • Richie Rocks
      August 7, 2020

      Even though I’m very late joining this thread.. Dear Suzana Rolle, Julia Aaron is Not a woman of calypso. She may have sang one or two calypsos locally or at school circa 79/80 but awa!! Farless her recorded single “Give A Little Love” written by Pat of course, is a REGGAE song. Get your facts straight!! Nothing to do with calypso!!

  8. NEWTOWN
    January 6, 2012

    WHAT contribution shakey made to be in any HALL OF FAME of calypso ?
    Lets us be real.

    WHat about KURLEY FLOWER ( MISS JOHN ) FROM KINGSHILL >

    hOW CAN WE FORGET the man himself year in and year out writing and singing and composing calypso

    what about the mighty picky a real legend of calypso no way has Shakey done more for calyspo than MIGHTY PICKY……its a shame we are judging Picky as how he is but forgetting his great contribution yet dr shakey yes I thats not right at all. Picky records speak for itself.

    what about the stalwarts like singing vicky oh how quickly we tend to forget.

    what about the great CATERER.

    ITS JUST LAUGHABLE

    I DONT BELIVE THAT SHAKEY IS DESERVING OF HALL OF FAME TREATMENT ALAS king hurricane did so much let me stop dno please publish

    • Alex Bruno
      January 6, 2012

      Greetings:

      Hurricane is being recognized as you can see and we are convinced, based on the criteria, that SHAKEY has made the cut and that Pickey and Katere’s day will come. Feel free to speak with me about any other concerns. Please listed to the event live on February 9, 2012 and you will hear the citations being read out.

      • ANDRE WHITE
        January 6, 2012

        DON’T TAKE IT PERSONAL ALEX….KAISO FANS…JUST HUNGRY FOR KAISO DISCUSION…AND DEBATE AND EMOTIONS RUNNING WILD….

    • ANDRE WHITE
      January 6, 2012

      AGAIN….CAULIFLOWER IS FROM CANEFIELD!!!!!!!
      10TH STREET!!!!!!!

      GET YOUR STATS CORRECT BEFORE HITTING ON ALEX….

      • WIKEDNESS
        January 11, 2012

        canefield came after KINGSHILL

        CAULIFLOWER IS FROM KINGSHILL

        DAMN YOU ALLL

        WHICH PATAT CANEFIELD

        ALLU LIKE TO TAKE GHETTO PEOPLE RANKS FOR ALLUSELF

    • ANDRE WHITE
      January 6, 2012

      NEWTOWN YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT KAISO…HOW YOU WANT TO CLAIM CAULIFLOWER FOR KINGS HILL….

  9. JaJi-Wanah
    January 5, 2012

    well it had to take tasha p to win a crown for the women of calypso in dominica to be Recognize,same on all you. as for the panel a bunch of hypocrites,wanna be ,know it all.well at list the women will get there flowers while they are alive that’s good.
    can’t wait to see tarina,singing sandy and tasha p on the same stage,three fine women.

  10. SARITA
    January 5, 2012

    “YES I” FROM MAHAUT….I BELIEVE….MADE IT TO FINALS A COUPLE TIMES…..

    “KNOWN FOR FOREGET ABOUT THAT…..WHEN HE FORGOT HIS SONG….SEMI FINALS :lol:

  11. ANDRE WHITE
    January 5, 2012

    YES I!

    MIKO FROM PORTSMOUTH!

  12. ANDRE WHITE
    January 5, 2012

    general natty….mighty choke! choke!

  13. ANDRE WHITE
    January 5, 2012

    CAULIFLOWER!!!

    • MERIDTH
      January 6, 2012

      OH DAT GIRL FROM HARLEM COULD SING

      SHE WAS QUITE A POWERFUL FORCE IN WOMEN CALYPSO AND WON ALOT OF CROWNS

      ENCY WROTE FOR HER
      SHW WAS GREAT A REAL LEGEND THE GREATEST FEMALE CALYSONIAN OF HER GENERATION

      ” WE NEED SOME WATER TO OUT THIS FIRE ”

      ALLU CANA REMEBER DAT CROWN WINNING MASTERPIECE ?

      WHERE WERE YOU BRUNO AT DAT TIME ?

      • ANDRE WHITE
        January 6, 2012

        HELLO…….

        JENNIFER (CAULIFLOWER)IS FROM CANFEIELD! 10TH STREET TO BE EXACT!!!!!

      • ANDRE WHITE
        January 6, 2012

        AND IS PATRICK JOHN DAT WROAT FOR HER….

  14. ANDRE WHITE
    January 5, 2012

    HOW DEAR WE FORGET….JALI….’SO REMEMBER! DON’T FORGET! WOMAN DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN TING….AND LEH ME HEAR YOU NOW!….

    JULIA ARON…..’bRING A LITTLE LOVE….

    LADY JOCKEY…..

    HELLO….

  15. January 4, 2012

    doe want to saturate your list, but there are some people that could have been consulted that could give vital information in there time that you may have overlooked,though you say more will be added, just want to help, guys like,
    mighty Raco; Everknow; Beggy;there was this old man from mahaut, think it’s Provoca;and to keep the list short,but i must mention a calypsonian that was a clasic to me, the Dice; not king Dice,the Dice was a fisherman in the potterville area,that’s one of the calypsonian that had style.Just FYI.

  16. sugar
    January 4, 2012

    hey too many names to mention but please in that concert u are going to have can dice name be include to perform and hey wat about the scrunter he has down (done) well too

  17. boots
    January 3, 2012

    I was looking for “BOOTS” from possy

  18. LaPointe massive..
    January 3, 2012

    Yah we r looking for lady pioneers of calypso… We should be looking at Swinging Janice, Brown Sugar…and all these other ladies from back in the 80’s who started off singing calypso… They are the ladies who should be inducteed first …for without them these new comers would not be here…juss putting my two cents in…

  19. Alex Bruno
    January 3, 2012

    Just look at the conditions for qualification again…please

    • WIKEDNESS
      January 11, 2012

      CONDITIONS FOR QUALIFICATION OR CRITERIA FOR QUALIFICATIONS LORD HAVE MERCY

      LOOK ENGLISH PAPA

      BIG MOUTH BAD ENGLISH ENCORE

      JUST ADMIT ALLU LAPS AND THATS THE BOTTOMLINER

      REVIEW THAT FLAWED CRITERIA GET BACT TO THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF CONDUCT A SOCIAL SURVEY TALK TO THE PUBLIC GET A SOCIAL FEED BACK ETC ETC ETC

      WHAT YOU ALL DID IS A SUBJECTIVE UNSCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS WHICH IS FOUND WANTING AND LACKS CREDIBILITY WHEN HAVIS SHILLINGFORD HAD HAD THE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME IT WAS PICTURE PERFECT SOUND CREDIBLE SCIENTIC AND FAIR……..CHECK HIM OUT

      YOU ALL ARE A SERIOUS DISSERVICE TO CALYPSO TRUST ME ALEX YOU ONLY JUST COME DOWN AND YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE ART FORM ITS NOT TODAY WE HAVE CALYPSO GO TO THE BIRTH PLACE OF KAISO IN DOMINICA COME TO HARLEMNEWTOWN!

  20. Alex Bruno
    January 3, 2012

    Greetings,

    The Dominica Calypso “kaiso” Hall of Fame committee and team of adjudicators took all of those names and matters into consideration. The fact is, everyone can’t be honored at once and maybe the otters shall come up for review in the future. There are names like Mico, Provoker, Pickey…e.t.c, but as we say, their turn may probably come sometime in the future. As for the other ladies who have contributed,
    we have compiled a list of every single one of them who have ever sang Calypso (we believe) on a national level, and their names will be mentioned throughout the event. There is also a book which has captured the work of those women; it will be released at the Hall of Fame event.

    Thanks for your comments. Please feel free to continue expressing your view points.

    • SUSANA ROLLE
      January 6, 2012

      YOU WANT TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY MAN

      TOOT MOON SAY BROTHER MY BOY ETC

      WHO ARE YOU FOOLING

      ADMIT THAT THIS TIME AROUND YOU ALL BLUNDERED BIG TIME

      MAKES REAL NO SENSE TO ME

      PLEASE GET INTO CONTACT WITH PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNOW ABOUT CALYPSO GET A BROADBASED PANEL AND RE DO THE NONSENSE THAT YOU ALL DID AHHHHH MAGWAY SAR

      NO CON LABI NO MIKO NO MIGHTY ARCHER NO PICKY NO CATERER NO MIGHTY LILLY NO MAN HIMSELF NO CULIFLOWER

    • WIKEDNESS
      January 6, 2012

      I DO HOPE THAT ALLU REMEMBER THE SUPER L DOUBLE L LEVI LOBLACK FOR HE WAS QUITE A MAJOR FORCE IN DOMINICA’S CALYPSO AND ALSO PICKY AND CAULIFLOWER AND CON LABI.

      THE SHAKY CHOICE IS NOT POPULAR FOR HALL OF FAME AT ALL

      ALLU FORGET HOW MUCH SONGS PJ AND FREDDIE MENDES WROTE AND WHAT ABOUT HURRICANE AND HUNTER SCRUNTER U TELLING ME SHAKEY DID MORE FOR CALYPSO THAN THOSE PEOPLE…..NO WAY PAPA!

    • WIKEDNESS
      January 11, 2012

      CHUPES U TOOO BOOOKEY

  21. kaiso man
    January 3, 2012

    what about lady backo

  22. Calypso Observer
    January 3, 2012

    Wait a minute here. What happen to mighty Con Labby??? the very first woman to compete in the monarch competition. What about Swinging Janice?? Tormada, wa one of the youngest to win monarch and sang calypso longer than Shakey did??

    Here are some of the early female calypsonians,

    Swinging Janice,
    Brown Sugar,
    and the late singing Susan. Please research the contribution these women made to the artform.

    • Calypso Historian
      January 3, 2012

      Calypso Observer: Yes, Con Lambie was quite good! I remember her well. FYI, though, King Shakey was the youngest ever Roadmarch King (he was 16 when he won that title in 1977), youngest ever — and first — Independence Calypso Monarch (1978), and youngest ever Calypso Monarch (he was 18 when he won that title in 1979). After winning that title, he moved to Trinidad where he performed with the Sparrow’s Young Brigade Calypso tent. Incidentally, while living in Trinidad, he wrote both of Tronada’s songs the year Tronada won the calypso crown, and also wrote for Brown Sugar, Swinging Janice, Haxey, and Spider, among others. And oh — he still sings and performs calypso in the USA with his group, King Shakey & The Banned. I saw them perform in Miami a few years ago. They’re dynamic! I just thought you should know.

      • Alex Bruno
        January 4, 2012

        Thank you, you really summed it up nicely. Trust me, we know all of this. Shakey meet all the requirements quite easily; he was also the first official President of the Dominica Calypso Association…thanks.

      • NEWTOWN
        January 6, 2012

        alex what do u know about calyso

        come to the headquarters of carnival in dominica and ask questions ok

        clearly you have alot to learn about hall of fame in calypo

        the choices made are very wrong this year especially shakey and the absence of CAULIFLOWER is simply maddness

        shame shame shame NO MIGHTY PICKY

  23. HMMM
    January 3, 2012

    Mention should at least be made of Marja(Lady Star) and Donnalee (Duchess. They both did very well in their arenas…

    • is mine
      January 3, 2012

      i was looking for lady star’s name as well

  24. calypso
    January 3, 2012

    what happen to lady christine who toiled as well

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