NFO Pays Tribute to King Swallow

Details

Music

Friday, 13 May 2011 02:30

By D Francis

Antigua St John's - Business Manager at the National Festivals Office Richard Apparicio wants the Ministry of Culture to build its own resource centre, comprising both audio and video recordings.

He made the remarks at a ceremony at the Palms Restaurant to award calypso adjudicators who have completed training sessions, and Rupert “King Swallow” Philo, who is nearing his 50th year in the calypso arena.

Apparicio, the facilitator for the workshops, said such a centre would be of tremendous benefit to the adjudicators and the contestants.

He also called on the Calypsonians' Association to think about creating its own radio station, and said such a business venture would help take their product to a different level, making it export viable and marketing the artistes across the globe.

“See how the Mighty Sparrow stopped recording and remixed all his old songs with a modern soca beat, and reaping the financial benefits? I say no more,” Apparicio said.

The workshop facilitator said while the feedback from the workshop was encouraging, there is still room for tremendous improvement.

“For instance, and not only in calypso, many individuals register as contestants to participate in these state-funded competitions and are not familiar with the stipulated criteria,” Apparicio said.

He also urged contestants to attend the workshop sessions.

“It is one of our long-term goals to build a pool of adjudicators," he explained. "It is by the adjudicating process that standards are set. We are confident that this approach will surely bear positive results and uplift the creativity of our cultural practitioners.” It is through the adjudication process on a Carnival stage that Short Shirt, Obstinate, and Swallow became world-class performers on the entertainment stage across the globe.”

Among the areas covered at the workshop are the history of calypso, adjudicators` codes of ethics, and adjudicating a calypso competition. The participants said they were motivated and got a greater awareness and appreciation of the art form. Certificates were presented to the adjudicators and observers.

Although King Swallow was not on a stage Wednesday night, he was showered with accolades, standing ovations, and special awards for his almost 50  years of "marriage," as they put it, to calypso.

NFO’s Office Manager Patricia Tully took the audience down memory lane, mapping King Swallow’s contribution to Carnival since 1962 and his extensive career that secured many titles, including four calypso monarch titles and five road march titles.

Tully said King Swallow’s string of soca hits have created a frenzy when and wherever he performs such classics as Don’t Stop The Party, Subway Jam, Satan Coming Down, Dawn of a New Day, One Hope – One Love-One Destiny, Soca Kingdom, and Man to Man.

“He has made a tremendous contribution to the art form and is someone that every Antiguan & Barbudan can be proud of. He is really a son of the soil and a musical ambassador par excellence," Tully said

To date, King Swallow has reigned as Caribbean Calypso King, is the recipient of three Sunshine Awards, has received national honours in Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada, and the Grand Cross of the Most Princely Heritage here in Antigua.

He was also the first calypsonian to grace the Radio City Music Hall stage.

He now manages the oldest and most consistent calypso tent running - Swallow’s Calypso Pepperpot.

Social Media Exposes Illegal Workers Antigua St. John's - The saga of illegal workers at Il Giardino, the fine dining Italian Restaurant at Jolly Harbour got more intense with the revelat... read more

King Swallow, who served as an observer at the adjudicators' workshop, said he is feeling very happy and humbled to have received such an honour, and he hopes to see calypso continue develop from strength to strength.

King Obstinate also shared the moment with him and congratulated him on his achievements.

• < Prev
• Next >