Sheldon John – Former Extempo Monarch of T&T

Extempo craftsman, Sheldon John, dies
Sheldon John, 2011 Extempo Calypso King has passed away approximately one month shy of his 39th birthday, according to Trinbago Unified Calypsonians’ Association’s (TUCO’s) Welfare Officer Carlston Kerr on Monday. He died of kidney failure at approximately 5.30 pm on Sunday at the Eric Willliams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope.

Extempo king dies
Six-time National Extempo Monarch Sheldon John succumbed to kidney failure around 5.30 p.m. on Sunday at the Mount Hope Medical Sciences Complex.

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Former Extempo Monarch, Sheldon John, dies

April 02, 2012

Sheldon John - Former Extempo Monarch of T&T

The Honourable Winston Peters, Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism issued the following statement on the passing of Sheldon John.

I was deeply saddened upon learning of the untimely passing of Sheldon John, former Extempo Monarch, and friend. Sheldon was a true champion of our local arts and culture, who made a consistent and genuine contribution to national life without drawing undue attention to himself.

Not only was he an excellent exponent of the art of extempore singing, he also played bass steel pans in the Exodus Steel Orchestra and for several years shared duties as Master of Ceremonies at Kaiso House Calypso Tent.

I, along with many others, recall that Sheldon showed great promise as he rose through the ranks of the then popular Vat19 Anyhowers Extempo Competition where he cut his proverbial teeth in the art of spontaneous composition. These experiences helped to prepare him for lyrical battle with the ‘big guns’ at the national finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah. Clearly, he took those lessons to heart as he went on to win the coveted National Extempo Monarch competition on no fewer than five occasions over the past ten years!

Although we competed against each other countless times, Sheldon always remained a friendly rival both on and off stage. We shared a camaraderie that demonstrated to me that he respected the teachings of the elders with whom he interacted.

On behalf of the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism, I wish to extend sincere sympathies to the family and relatives of Sheldon John. We have lost a beloved friend and artist. I will always keep Sheldon in my thoughts and prayers.

Sheldon John at the 2011 Kaisorama Extempo Competition

Extempo King Sheldon John Dies
WIN News understands he was admitted at the Mount Hope Medical Sciences Complex on Carnival Saturday night and passed away, at about 5:30 pm yesterday, as a result of kidney failure.
He sang his way to the 2011 Extempo King title at the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation “Kaisorama – “A night of Champions” competition at the Queen’s Park Savannah, defeating Phillip “Black Sage” Murray.

1. Duane O’Connor: The Hunt is On, Long Live Calypso
2. Kurt Allen: Long Live Calypso, When Will It End
3. Karene Asche: Against All Odds, You Will Win The Battle But
4. Devon Seale: One Is One, Snapshots
5. Heather Mac Intosh: The Adjective, One Gone
6. Dr. Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool: Shame Mr Shak, How’s Dat
7. Michael “Sugar Aloes” Osouna: Doh Force Meh Hand, Chinese Kidnapping
8. Dexter “Stinger” Parsons: My Reason For Being Here, Advice In Song
9. Brian London: Not Brian, Doh Complain – Come Plain
10. Sandra “Singing Sandra” Des Vignes-Millington: On Turning 50, Why I Sing
11. Lesley:Ann Ellis: Street Justice, Mothers and Others
12. Weston “Cro Cro” Rawlins: Say Something, Release Them

The following is the list of winners in the Queen of Carnival competition:

1. Chariss Bovell: Mother of Humanity-The Weeping Madonna
2. Roxanne Omalo: Last Dance of the Enchanted Witches
3. Rose Marie Kuru Jagessar: Wachiw-I Dream of a Bustle Dancer
4. Shari Derek: D’Woman and D’Butterflies
5. Kay Mason: Amethyst Rising
6. Lanie Lezama: Harmony
7. Cherry-Ann Patrice Valere: The Limbo Dancer
8. Laura Rampersad: Princess of the Mardi Gras
9. Patricia Bailey: Exotic Sunset on the Horizon
10. Avernell Johnson: Princess Odette, Queen of the Swans

The following is the list of winners in the King of Carnival competition:

1. Roland St George: Ralliez-Vous A Mon Panache Blanc
2. Gerard Weekes: Malak Yahweh, The Praying Mantis
3. Curtis Eustace: The Midnight Messenger, The Mask Of
4. Adrian Young: The Crow
5. Earl Thompson: Icarus ascending
6. Brian Chin: Prince Siegfried, the story of Swan Lake, tribute to Wayne Berkeley
7. Zainool Mohammed: Kwak Waka Wakin, the Sacred Totem
8. Wade Madray: Flight of Conscience
9. Jhawhan Thomas: Alpha
10. Shane Philip: Tree of Life

Berkeley dies at 70
Legendary masman Wayne Berkeley died yesterday evening at age 70. In 2000, he suffered a severe stroke that left him paralysed on the right side of his body but never dulled his creativity

Berkeley makes mas no more
Mas designing legend Wayne Berkeley passed away at the family home on Clifford Street, Belmont, yesterday evening. He was 71.

His brother Oswald said the renowned mas maker died at 7.35pm due to complications of a third stroke which he suffered two weeks ago. Berekely survived his first stroke which occurred roughly ten years ago and left his right side of his body paralysed.

Wayne Berkeley — A biography
VETERAN Carnival masman Wayne Kenneth Berkeley, who died last night following complications due to a stroke, was born in 1940 in Belmont. He attended St Mary’s College.

‘Let’s celebrate Wayne’s life’
Masman Wayne Berkeley, who died on Thursday at age 70 following a stroke two weeks ago, will be laid to rest on Tuesday, June 14, either at the Church of the Assumption or the Chapel at St Mary’s College, which were the two churches he attended.

Minshall: Berkeley my greatest competitor
“My greatest competitor,” is how legendary masman Peter Minshall succinctly hailed another master of mas-making, Wayne Berkeley, who died on Thursday at age 71.

Berkeley a master of fantasy in mas costumes

Gypsy: He left a void on T&T’s cultural landscape

Genius of Berkeley must be shared

Saluting Wayne Berkeley
WAYNE Berkeley’s passing on Thursday night has deprived Trinidad and Tobago of one of our big names in Carnival costume design.

Legendary Mas Maker Wayne Berkeley’s Send-Off in pictures

Large
1. Humanity-Circle of Life — Mac Farlane Carnival — 1,335
2. Tales of Merrie Olde England — Trini Revellers — 1,278
3. South Pacific — Legacy — 1,198
4. Colour of Green — Showtime Trinidad — 1,058

Medium
1. Survivors — Ronnie & Caro, The Mas Band — 1,190
2. Village Life — Rosalind Gabriel and Village Productions — 1,177
3. D Latin Flava — D Harvard Revellers Inc Ltd — 1,173
4. Fleets in — Trinidad All Stars Steelband — 1,167

Small
1. Beauty Beneath The Sea — Belmont Original Sylish Sailors — 1,203
2. Gathering Of The First People — Tribal Connection — 1,193
3. Greece, The Legacy — The Belmont Jewels — 1,036
4. Sailing Around The World — Mt. Hope Connection — 1,023

Mini
1. Play De Mas — The Original Jab Jab — 1,199
2. Son Of A Watless — 2001 Jab Malassie — 1,134
3. Indians Are Coming — Village People — 1,114
4. Hell Raisers — Peter Felician and Associates — 1,107

Machel set for 4th Road March title
Blazing the trail with his hit Advantageous, International Soca Monarch Machel Montano is confident that the song will lead him to his fourth Road March title.

Screams of Delight
Newly-crowned Soca Monarch and front-runner for the 2011 Road March title Machel Montano worked the stands at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, into a frenzy yesterday during the Parade of the Bands on the big stage.

Mac Farlane set to create Carnival history
Brian Mac Farlane’s 2011 presentation, Humanity: The Circle Of Life, may just be what the reigning Band of the Year leader needs to pull off his fifth consecutive win and create Carnival history…

Masqueraders party hard at the Big Yard

‘Tsunami’ sweeps downtown
FRESH from copping the coveted King of Carnival title at the Dimanche Gras on Sunday night, Wayne Madray’s Pacific Tsunami was the star of the show as festivities began in downtown Port-of-Spain yesterday.

Standing ovation for MacFarlane

Kamla: $1b boost to T&T’s economy
The economy has received an injection of $1 billion as a result of Government’s investment in Carnival, according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Bands snub Piccadilly Greens
Even though there were calls by the National Carnival Committee (NCC) for more bands to parade past the judging point on the Piccadilly Greens, east Port-of-Spain only a few bands made their way through the route yesterday.

Rain fails to dampen San Fernando mas

Colour Mas in Sando
THERE was no main stage, but hundreds of masqueraders yesterday took Machel Montano’s advice and took full “Advantage” of brilliant sunshine and crossed various judging points shortly after midday to give San Fernando a bumper colourful Carnival.

Kalicharan’s ‘Colours’ light up South

36 bands cross the stage
Carnival Tuesday in Tobago got off to a fantastic colourful filled day, with approximately 36 bands crossing the stage, before the judges in Scarborough and at Old Milford Road.

Haitian students find new dawn at J’Ouvert

Back to work
THERE is a time for every purpose in this world. On Sunday evening at the Dimanche Gras show, it was the time of TT’s youth, the night when experienced bards were taught a thing or two by a junior. There’s a new Calypso Monarch in town and she is a young woman. Twenty-six-year-old Karene Asche’s rendition of her calypsos, “Careful what you ask for” and “Uncle Jack” was simply refreshing. A crown well won.

Police out for Carnival
Despite sickout action by police officers over the past few weeks, officers were out in their numbers on Carnival Tuesday to ensure that the nation’s security went according to plan.

Reveller in Matura row fighting for life
Police said Julia Warren, of Anglias Road, Cumana, Toco, was dragged by a car driven by a 61-year-old man after her clothing got stuck between the vehicle doors.

Woman: Ex-boyfriend steals costume

Bandits hit thick crowds on Avenue
Cops shut down music; spectators scamper

Mystery over cop’s missing gun
A police officer assigned to the Piarco Police Station is at the centre of an investigation after he lost his service pistol on Carnival Monday.

Swede robbed of $22,000 camera
A male resident of Sweden was robbed of his camera at Old St Joseph Road, Laventille, around 9.30 Monday morning, the foreigner told police.

Argument between friends ends in death
A man stabbed in the chest during an argument with a friend died on the way to the Chaguanas District Hospital yesterday afternoon.

A great Carnival says police chief

KARENE BEATS VETERANS
FORMER Junior Calypso Monarch Karene Asche yesterday morning became the first woman to win the National Calypso Monarch crown in almost a decade, and in the process made history by taking home the competition’s largest ever cash prize of $2 million.

Karene takes $2m Calypso Monarch title

Queen Karene!
AFTER delivering sterling performances of “Be Careful What You Ask For” in round one and “Uncle Jack” in the second, Karene Asche was declared the 2011 National Calypso Monarch early yesterday morning at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.

Jack: I can learn from Karene
Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner promises to get a copy of Calypso Monarch Karene Asche’s CD to hear what he can learn from her song, “Uncle Jack”.

Wee People, Legacy take King and Queen titles

Madray makes waves to top kings

Carnival Kings, queens go forth
Complete with pyrotechnics and other special effects, they crossed the stage of the Queen’s Park Savannah during Dimanche Gras on Sunday.

‘Camla’ takes downtown Jouvert crown
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Minister of Works and Transport Jack Warner were the subjects of the successful portrayals at yesterday’s Downtown Carnival Committee’s Jouvert celebrations at South Quay, Port of Spain…

Rain fails to dampen Sando mas

Kamla jumps in People’s Band
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar joined revellers of the People’s Band crossing the stage at Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain yesterday.

PM crosses stage with People’s Band
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and several Government Ministers made D’ People’s Band their choice, as they took to the stage at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, yesterday afternoon.

Dookeran leads J’Ouvert band
Congress Of the People political leader Winston Dookeran participated in J’Ouvert yesterday morning as a masquerader in the party’s band, Is Meh Pardner Ship.

Machel on the march
‘Advantage’ most played at Carnival venues

…Revellers enjoy Savannah ‘Advantage’

Smooth flow of bands at Adam Smith Square judging point
The large bands took no longer than 15 minutes to move across the judging point and there was no delay in appearances of other bands as masqueraders made their way off to Machel Montano’s “Advantage”, which was played more than any other song yesterday.

Pan’s show time
WE congratulate Neal and Massy All Stars on their sixth National Panorama title win Saturday night and their unflawed, dramatic execution of the Edwin Pouchet/Alvin Daniell composition “It’s Showtime.”

Police open fire at Matura Jouvert
JOUVERT celebrations in the community of Matura were yesterday marred by two incidents, one in which police opened fire on a group of people, injuring one man, during a volatile incident, and another in which a woman was knocked down by an irate motorist.

Police association chief injured in melee
PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Sgt Anand Ramesar, was injured yesterday when he challenged two rival gangs who were engaged in a bottle war during Jouvert celebrations along Ariapita Avenue in Port of Spain.

Chaguanas mas insured for $5m
Chaguanas Carnival has been insured for $5 million, according to Mayor Orlando Nagessar.

Problems as Chaguanas mas returns to main road
A FIGHT that ended with one man losing part of his ear was among the problems that developed yesterday, as Chaguanas Carnival returned to the main road

Violence mars Penal J’Ouvert
Violence brought a premature end to J’Ouvert celebrations in Penal yesterday after a police corporal was attacked by revellers. The officer was taken to the Penal District Health after he was hit with two beer bottles on his head. He was treated for head injuries and later discharged. Celebrations kicked off at 4 am with revellers frolicking along the Penal Main Road. However, the celebrations quickly turned violent as police had to be called in to break up fights in the crowd.

Cops make 150 arrests during J’Ouvert celebrations

Police arrest 120 in PoS

King of Carnival Results

1 Wade Madray — “Pacific Tsunami” — 421 points

2 Owen Hinds Jr — “Battle of the Marabuntas” — 420

3 Curtis Eustace — “Bozo-D Legend Lives On” — 416

4 Marlon Rampersad — “Bedazzled” — 394

5 Lionel Jagessar Jr — “Wakinyan-Quest Of The Feather Seeker” — 387

6 Roland St George — “Pan On Fire” — 386

7 Gerard Weekes — “In The Beginning Good And Evil” — 382

8 Glenn Dave Lakhan — “The Jewel Spider” — 371

9 Fareid Carvalho — “Mr Carnival-The Return Of The Fire Man” — 370

10 Leroy Prieto — “Mukasa-The God Of Water” — 350

Queen of Carnival Results

1 Peola Marchan — “D Jeweled Chandelier” — 416 points

2 Gloria Dallsingh — “Splendor Of Lights” — 414

3 Kay Mason — “Island Queen” — 407

4 Roxanne Omalo — “Serpent Sorceress” — 389

5 Gayle Marcano — “D Ruby Brooch” — 387

6 Cherryann Valere — “Forest Blossom” — 374

7 Patricia Bailey — “Diamonds Are Forever” — 373

8 Jenna Marie Andre — “Botanica-A Floral Extravaganza” — 372

9 Avernell Johnson — “Chia-The Goddess” — 357

10 Sevell Nicholls — “In The End-Dance And Rejoice” — 356

Machel takes Soca Monarch crown

After delivering what many fans consider to be his best performance of the season Machel Montano claimed the two million dollar grand prize in the Power Soca category at the 2011 International Soca Monarch Competition at the Hasley Crawford Stadium last night.

A capacity crowd turned out to see the crème de la crème of soca artistes perform but in the end, Montano’s popular song “Advantage”, was chosen by the judges and the crowd for the Power Soca title.

Full Article : guardian.co.tt

Machel, Kes triumph in Soca Monarch

Machel Montano Celebrates Victory with Kernel Roberts

Kes Performs at Girl Power Fete

Machel Montano was crowned 2011 Power Soca Monarch champion at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Port of Spain, this morning. Montano topped the field with his Road March contender “Advantage”, the Soca star winning two million dollars. Iwer George, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez were second, third and fourth, respectively. The Groovy Soca Monarch title and $500,000 first prize went to Kes Dieffenthaller, who sang “Wotless”. Benjai was second, Destra third and Blaxx fourth.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/

Busy Carnival for PM

By Sean Douglas
Saturday, March 5 2011

After attending last night’s International Soca Monarch finals, Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar will join spectators for the Junior Parade of the Bands on the streets of Port-of-Spain and at the Queen’s Park Savannah today.

She will also return to the savannah later tonight for the Panorama finals, of which she is a patron.

She was also the patron of the Soca Monarch competition which took place at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain. Ahead of the announcement of the winner, Persad-Bissessar told reporters yesterday she had a favourite artiste but would not say who…

Full Article : newsday.co.tt

March 06, 2011

MACHEL’S TRIUMPHANT $2M RETURN… ADVANTAGE!
Soca superstar Machel Montano made a triumphant return to the Soca Monarch arena on Fantastic Friday, advantaging his other competitors on his way to his first bmobile Power Soca Monarch title and the $2 million first prize at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Machel Is Monarch
Kees takes Groovy title
Hundreds of patrons booed upon the announcement that Machel Montano had won the 2011 International Power Soca Monarch competition, making off with the $2 million first prize.

Machel, Kees take the big prize

‘Wotless’ Kees takes $500,000 Groovy Soca crown

Sizzling Soca competition

‘The show was successful’
There were several calls for people to go to the stands since people were being pickpocketed and trampled upon. The house announcer said the show would not go on unless they moved to safer points…