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Gerald Rampersad was born 29th December 1966 in the General Hospital in Port-Of-Spain Trinidad. He is the son of well-known accomplished vocalist, Mastan Bahar finalist Hasrah Rampersad, percussion and rhythm master Soorage Rampersad.
Gerald grew up among four Uncle’s Sham, Leon, Kumar, and Arjoon Rampersad who are also well known respected achieved musicians o f Trinidad & Tobago. Gerald started his musical career playing his father’s Bongo Drum at the age of four in the family band Sitar Hind Orchestra, led by his Grandfather Lal Rampersad.
In 1983 at the age of seventeen he migrated to the United States and settled in New York City.
Shortly after he started learning to play the saxophone. He then met Paul Litrenta an Italian Trumpet player, the Band Master at Flushing High school. Paul took Gerald under his wing and taught him to read and write music.
After studying and playing with various artists such as John Farnsworth trombonist for the Glen Miller Orchestra and Wallace Rooney, recognized as one of the top Jazz Trumpeter’s In the world, Gerald went on to make his own name in the music industry.
Gerald then went on to work with a number of Trinidad and Tobago’s Top Soca artist. Such names as Iwer George, Super Blue, Colin Lucas, United Sisters, Preacher, David Rudder, Crazy, Duke, Explainer, Brigo, The Mighty Shadow, Chris Garcia, Calypso Rose, Black Stalin, Brother Resistance just to name a few.
Shortly there after then went on to lead the Love Band for Four Years as musical director and arranger for Super Blue’s touring band in the U.S.
Playing for the top Chutney artist such as Rikki Jai, Anand Yankaran, Sonny Man, Drupatee, Sundar Popo, Cecil Fonrose, Adesh Samaroo, Gatto, Queen Yasmin, Celia Samaroo and more.
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In the spring of 1994 Gerald also landed an acting roll in the off Broadway Play at Lincoln Center entitled “Play Boy Of The West Indies.” The call came from Andre Tanker contracted as the musical director. The play ran for Six Months off Broadway, working along side veteran superstar actor
Anthony Fargus better known as (Huggy Bear on Stasky & Hutch) and Loraine Toussaint more famous for her dread lock appearance in the James Bond Movie and perhaps even more famous for her staring role in her television series L.A. Law.
India Overseas called in 1994 requesting the services and expertise of Gerald Rampersad to accompany the leading play back singer of the Indian Film industry Kumar Sanu for a sold out concert averaging over 50,000 spectators in Trinidad Stadium that year.
Shortly after in 1995 Gerald was asked to join the JMC Triveni band by Keyboard Wizard Veerendra Persad. Gerald and Veerendra Co-Produced for the JMC Record Label started a Mass recording campaign to change the way the recording industry was sounding by introducing another cross of influential jazz riffs and progression with typical Indian and chutney chords, now every local band In Trinidad has or have been influenced by the incredible sound of Triveni’s Crossover Indian Jazz Soca sound.
Gerald has recorded extensively with Super Blue and the JMC Triveni band. He has two solo albums to his credit, a Jazz compilation of originals and his very first Indian album entitled Music Beyond Time. He is currently working on his third solo project which includes numerous vocal tracks by his wife Teresa Rampersad. You can still expect the incredible contemporary jazz ensemble sound and the extensive, elaborate section work from Gerald.
The Jazz Soca Fusion sound is an interesting one, it is a sophisticated acquired taste Gerald hopes the listener has as much enjoyment and appreciation for the hard work that went into in as he did enjoy making it. He wishes to thank his family, friends, fans and supporters all over the world for their continued support and love.
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