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Cultural
Artistes
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Vidya
Babwah Gosein
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This talented young lady
was originally from Spring Village, Valsayn.
She started singing in her primary school, Spring
Village Hindu, and led her school choir in Bal
Vikas competitions from age seven. She refined
her skills from age nine under the tutorship
of Sri Rajan Seemungal.
He was quite influential
in making her the success she became in the
music world. Her training took a different form
when she transitioned from Bhajans and Kirtans
to Raagas and more into the classical form of
music. Along with her uncle and brother she
continued to sing with Sri Rajan in temples
and at Ramayans and Satsanghs all over Trinidad.
On her transfer to Lakshmi
Girls Hindu College, she also led the choir
and represented the school in national Sanskritic
Sangam. She made her school proud when she brought
home many challenged trophies. Her school choir
also made a guest appearance on the talent show,
Ricki Ticki and other television features.
At fifteen, Vidya performed
for the first time at the preliminary round
of Mastana Bahar, the most prestigious talent
competition in Trinidad. She was a proud first
place winner. She then went on to the semifinal
round where she again placed first. It was at
that performance, Mr. Teddy Bissambhar approached
her to join his D. Rampersad’s Indian Art
Orchestra. Alas, her dream of following in the
footsteps of the legendary Lata Mangeshkar was
becoming a reality.
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Vidya
graduated from Lakshmi Girls’ College in
1993 with distinction and a full certificate.
In December of that year she competed in the
finals of Mastana Bahar where she placed fourth.
From then on she appeared in Rafi’s Mother’s
Day show and many other occasions.
Vidya has had the opportunity
to perform with many famous and renowned artistes.
One was Nitin Mukesh, son of Mukesh Chandmatur,
and Devindra Pooran of Guyana. She sang melodious
duets with many local artistes such as Indar
Kanhai, Anil Bissambhar, Ras Nancoo Singh, his
sons Andy and Ian Singh, Renee Ramnarine, Sona
d Jeweller, and Ricky Jai. She also utilized
her talent to voice many successful ads for
food products.
She made her international
debut with Indian Art Orchestra in Mississauga,
Canada and was a great hit. She toured Canada
a second time and then continued to New York
and Miami. Vidya now resides in Miami, Florida
with her husband Yudesh and their children Vishan
and Anjali. She continues to perform at shows
and religious occasions with Neil Persad and
the Florida Melody Makers and other visiting
bands. She also practices her talented melodious
voice by singing to her children to upkeep her
talent.
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Jameer
Hosein - A Living
Legend
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Jameer Hosein was born
in the year 1939 in Freeport and grew up in
a family where his father, the late Hosein Ali
and his uncles practiced singing in the village
for weddings etc. Against this background, he
became very fond of singing and spent his early
years under the watchful eyes of the late Isaac
Yankaran in the Naya Sangeet Orchestra.
From there he moved on
to the Nau Jawan Orchestra under the leadership
of Chander Bali and later moved on to the Naya
Zamana Orchestra. His final band stint was with
the BWIA National Indian Orchestra under Maestro
Harry Mahabir.
Jameer spent more than
twenty years singing in bands( Film Songs) under
the best musical Directors including Ustad Nazir
Mohammed, no wonder he is considered today as
the master of melody.
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In
the early sixties he was advised by the late
Isaac Yankaran to try a few classical songs
which he did with great success although he
found some difficulty not being able to play
the harmonium which is an integral part of classical
singing.
After
the death of his mentor the late Isaac Yankaran,
and in his memory, Jameer not only mastered
the art of playing the harmonium but up to today
is considered as the King of classical songs.
He won Mastana Bahar in 1972 and the classical
singing championship in 1998 making him the
most accomplished classical singer. Classical
singing is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago-
Jameer Hosein the crowd pleaser, is its leading
exponent
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Gary Jagrup
Ever since a young age, Gary Jagrup, 26, has been active in mastering the art of impersonating a wide range of characters, with most if not all of his talent being realised while in school. Particularly in Presentation College, San Fernando, Gary made it a habit to embark on impersonations of his school teachers, a good case in point being the first impersonation he successfully did there of a Geography teacher with whom he had a great "fallout" with.
This impersonation was just the beginning when his classmates were very impressed with these impersonations; many a time, they even called their friends to hear these impersonations. Apparently, every where Gary goes, he always makes attempts to vocally impersonate those around him.
"Of course, it is not always possible to have an impersonation down pat in an instant, but give me a chance to hang around you for some time, and I just might get it" he says.
For many years, and throughout his school days, Gary has been able to impersonate several television characters, and of course, his favorite target, school teachers. However, his real break began when he was enrolled in UWI in 2000 to pursue a degree in civil engineering,where he started impersonating lecturers, when he met some "friends" while having some drinks at a nearby bar.
"It never came to my attention of the idea of impersonating politicians, until some of these drunk students who on hearing some of my sample impersonations while I was having a beer, gave me this golden advice.
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Not too long after, I acquired a pocket tape recorder and tried to impersonate characters such as FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, Basdeo Panday, Patrick Manning and Former President, ANR Robinson. Even I was impressed!" Then, in 2004, Gary was 'intercepted' by the then Student Guild President, Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh to do a brief medley of impersonations for a chutney show on campus, as one of the campus orientation activities. This impressed the crowd, and had them laughing hysterically.
Then the following year, a free comedy show was held featuring already established artistes such as Peter Joseph, Kenneth Supersad and Learie Joseph. Gary couldn't resist and volunteered to perform some impersonations of the nation's politicians. it was then he got recognition from Kenneth Supersad, who referred him to the very talented promoter, Randy Glasgow. Gary then went on to perform his acts in many shows managed by Randy Glasgow Productions. He even did some performances for "Massive Gosein Roving tent".
His abilities of impersonating even attracted the attention of radio personality, Sadro Mohammed, who invited him as a guest on the Program 'plain talk' where he received many good reviews from the callers to the program, such as "That boy is the solution to all the politics in ths country, yeh, mock all ah dem!!!!" His most recent work has been in the recently held "Cro Cro in concert", where he had to portray the role of Jack Warner, in a skit entitled "Bacchanal Time" involving Peter Joseph, Sprangalang and Tommy Joseph. He is also a finalist at the "Laugh Out Loud" competition held by the company, Face Forward, which is to be held 9th December in The Arima Velodrome...
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Shankuntala
Jangbahdoor
Among the outstanding artistes
in Trinidad and Tobago, undoubtedly one of the
top vocalists, is Shakuntala Jangbahadoor, a
pioneer of combinations of Hindustani, Classical,
Film and Western Forms of Music
Born in Penal in 1964,
Shakuntala was the third of five children born
to Mr. and Mrs. D Jangbahadoor. Her family is
a deeply religious and music oriented one, one
which nurtured and embedded in Shakuntala's
soul the aesthetic beauty and divinity of music.
At the age of six she was
introduced to the stage as an actress in a Ramayan
play produced by her father. Her grandparents,
who sang Ramayan and Folk music also contributed
to nurturing the soulful and heartful strains
that Shakuntala now renders. Peotry competitions,choir
singing and most of all temple and Ramayan singing
developed in Shakuntala a singing style which
in its delicacy and refinement has remained
ungarnished over the years.
Shakuntala has experienced
and participated in numerous forms of music.
At the secondary school level, she was exposed
to English and Western Music. hindi songs, plays,
as well as painting. These experiences have
left her well rounded and artistically balanced.
It was at Secondary and University levels of
education however, that this young phenomenal
artist was recognised for what she was.
At the university of the
West Indies where she read for a degree in History
and Social Sciences during the years 1985-1989
Shakuntala was nicknamed the "Nightingale".
She became the lead singer for SPIC. From then
on there was no stopping her. She performed
with outstanding success in many competitions
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She has been to Puerto
Rico, New York, Miami and Japan for cultural
performances, yet her modesty , simplicity and
almost ascetic humility has endured. In 1989, Shakuntala organised
the programme 'Sangeet Ka Sagar' ( An ocean
of Music) at Palms Club in San Fernando. It
was extremely successful. In the same year,
this beautiful nightingale was rewarded by being
awarded a scholarship to India by the Indian
High Commission, where she obtained a Bachelor
of Arts Degree with Honours in Vocal music.
During her five years stay
in India, Shakuntala performed in various programmes
and was nicknamed 'KHOYAL' ( Bird With A BEAUTIFUL
VOICE).. She did recordings with the famous
Indian Music Directors Salil Choudary and Anil
Biswas.She even participated in a programme
A Tribute to Ravi Shankar.
She returned to Trinidad
in 1994. She is by profession a secondary school
teacher of Social Studies and also conducts
vocal classes in San Fernando and Penal. The
beauty and purity of her voice and her singing
has been developed and almost perfected over
time. She has obtained through her experiences,
self Knowledge and moral and spiritual enlightenment.
In her deeply religious strains one senses the
odour of sanctity, the beauty of holiness- a
type of music that regenerates , inspires, lifts
the heart and nourishes the soul.
In one of her rare public
appearances Shakuntala will deliver a segemt
of well executed hits from yesteryear accompanied
by the versatile Shivanand Maharaj and group
in the Annual Mothers Day Spectacular at the
Centre of Excellence on Saturday 11th May, 2002.
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