Artistes Bios
BROWN SUGAR
Newbie on the scene Bajan born Colleen T aka Bajan Brown Sugar has been singing calypso since 2014. Started out with an interest in writing Calypso and it quickly evolved into performing such songs as ‘I Calling You Out’, ‘Stomping’, ‘Put it Back’, and most recently the sexy and suggestive ‘Gimme De O’ and ‘Quickie’. Brown Sugar has been a featured singer with Tropical Rhythms Calypso Tent in Toronto for the past 4 years. During the recent pandemic she produced and performed in Torch Bearers Virtual Calypso Tent series 2021 to 2022, as well as performed in virtual shows with Sesame Flyers out of New York in 2021 and in Virtual show with Calypso Alberta in 2020. Colleen has strong community roots and is currently secretary of Organization of Calypso Performing Artistes (OCPA).
Connector
With a career spanning more than two decades, Connector (Joel Davis) is a singer, songwriter, producer and passionate performer. He started singing at the age of 5 in school competitions. He’s the first artist to earn the titles of Canadian Soca Monarch and Caribana Road March both in 2005 with ‘On the Road’. He was nominated for the Sunshine Award in NYC for the best political and social commentary calypso, ‘De Nation Cries’. A finalist in the 2006 International Chutney Soca Monarch Competition in Trinidad and Tobago, Connector has performed far and wide – Hong Kong, England, Miami, New York and Trinidad. He has over 50 recorded songs and numerous awards and accomplishments, including 2015 CCMA Award for Top Artiste Calypso and Soca, 2016 Calypso Monarch Toronto and 2017 CMEA Award for Top Soca Artiste. Connector’s stage presence and performances liven up any stage.
GUNEY
Growing up in a musical household which embraced Calypso and parang – a reflection of his Trinidadian and Spanish roots – Guney started singing at age six. He entered the Canadian scene in 1994, reaching at least the semi-finals of the Calypso Monarch competition in each subsequent year. His first recording “Two Jook and a Tremble” (1995) reached the Caribbean Top 20 Chart. It was followed by Gi’e De People What Dey Want”, “Ragga Soca Groove” (1996), “Here I Am” (1998), and CD’s “The Music Makes Me Feel So High” (2002) and “Music From The Heart” (2005). Guney’s rich baritone voice and confident stage presence makes him one of the most popular singers in the Kaiso Forum Calypso Tent.
KING COSMOS
King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) is a composer, recording artist and musician. Originally from Prince’s Town, Trinidad, among his many accomplishments are winning Canadian Calypso Monarch (1995), a Canadian Urban Music Award and a Canadian Reggae Music Award. His popular recorded songs like Jammin, Christie, Culture Shock, Ole Man Willie, Payback Time, Daisy, Santa Bring My Baby Home and Put it in Writing, have themes ranging from party to Christmas to activism. He’s been an MC with Kaiso Forum Calypso Tent, at Harbourfront Centre and Afrofest, and hosted shows on CFRB-1010 and CIUT-89.5 FM. As an actor, he has appeared on stage in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, worked in radio, film and TV and directed productions for La Petite Musicale of Toronto. His musical background includes stints with Afropan Steelband and Guinness Cavaliers. Latest projects include a soca adaptation of Hallelujah, releasing a 55th Anniversary Caribana/Toronto Carnival song.
LUV BUG
Herbert ‘Luv Bug’ Tyson, born in San-Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago, and migrated to Toronto, Canada in October 1972. He joined the Calypso Association of Canada (OCPA) in 1987 and has been a regular performer in the Canadian Calypso Monarch competition, reaching the finals and finally in 1993 capturing the top prize. That year he traveled to Miami and entered their Calypso Competition and also won there.
MACOMERE FIFI
Fifi is Canada ’s most successful female calypsonian. Born in Tobago, she came to Canada in 1987, joined folk choir La Petite Musical Toronto, and soon joined the cast of Ramajay Calypso Tent. She’s won the Calypso Monarch of Canada title numerous times, along with many titles and awards. Fifi has traveled to Trinidad to compete on the national stage, made appearances at Notting Hill, U.K., Atlanta, Georgia, at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, with the Caribana Festival’s delegation to Hong Kong (2005) and to Chicago (2008). In 2007 she was a subject of a documentary titled Heartbeat, starred in the Dora-nominated Obeah Opera, and was a featured singer in a CBC Radio 2 concert at Glenn Gould Studio. Her works are featured on various popular compilations and on her 2003 CD titled ‘Sweet As Ever’. Fifi remains a beloved artist with an international calypso and soca music reputation.
PANMAN PAT
Legendary Panman Pat (McNeilly) received a Juno award (1991) and was twice winner of the Calypso Monarch of Canada (1983 and 1985). In 1986 he introduced Steelband as a formal high school music credit course in the Toronto District School Board. He holds a Diploma in Education from Queen’s University and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. Panman Pat is also an inductee of the Pan Pioneer Award (2005). In 1995 he received the Trinidad & Tobago Republic Day Award for the promotion of Calypso and Steelband music in Canada. He is a founding member of Calypso Association of Canada (OCPA) in 1982 and more recently held the position of President (2019 – 2021). He is also a founding member of the Ontario Steelpan Association (OSA). Pat has inspired a whole generation of steelpan players and continues to make his mark as a freelance musician and calypsonian.
Princess Trinidad
Joanne Davis a.k.a. Princess was born in the Trinidad and Tobago, migrating to Canada many years ago. She started singing as a child in church and school choir at nine years old. In Toronto she worked as a back-up singer for various artists and co-produced a radio show on C.H.R.Y. 105.5 FM. A prolific songwriter, composer, producer, she also works as a disc jockey on SAMESOHITGOH RADIO, her own online station. Princess Trinidad composes and performs various genre of music – calypso, soca, reggae, gospel, and more – and has performed in Jamaica, Trinidad and all over Canada, sharing the stage with many international artists. She was recently featured on SISTAHFEST in Toronto.
ROGER GIBBS
Roger Gibbs is a Calypso and Caribbean Acoustic singer / guitarist and recording artist who is originally from Barbados. He was a performing member of COBA (Collective of Black Artists) from 1995 to 2013, one of Canada’s leading dance/theatre companies. He has recorded two solo albums – ‘Spirit of Calypso’ (1999), ‘Calypso Classics on Guitar – Vol 1. (2005)’, and two albums with his band Shak Shak titled ‘Hot So’ (2012) and ‘Shak Shak Party’ (2017). He also recorded a collection of Bajan and original folk songs with his brother John Gibbs titled ‘BIM – Folk Songs of Barbados’. He was a founder and first Artistic Director of Calypso Stars at Harbourfront Centre – the largest annual concert of new Canadian Calypso. In 2013, Roger received a special award from the Toronto Caribbean Carnival for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Calypso in Canada.
SUSAN G
Susan Grogan is best known for her smash hits ‘Gimme Pan’, ‘Forbidden Wine’ and ‘Mr. Music Man’. She has made international appearances on stages including the Cayman Islands, Colombia, and several cities in the USA and Canada. Susan G. started her singing career as a background vocalist with the Battle Ground Calypso Tent and lead vocalist with the pop band Sauvage in Barbados. In the early 90’s Susan made Toronto her home and started singing with the band Taste of Madness. She is now the lead vocalist and band leader of Neu Jenerashun – a top Soca dance band. Susan has been a lead singer with the highly-acclaimed COBA dance company for the past eighteen years. In 2007 she won the titles of Calypso Monarch Competition of Miami, U.S.A. and of Ottawa, Canada.
Yellows
Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Carlos David Morgan, known to his fans as Yellows, started singing in the church choir where his family attended every Sunday morning. His first public singing experience was at a Calypso competition at his high school in 1980 placing second. Shortly after, he was approached by a member of the band Resurrection and joined as their lead vocalist into the mid-1980’s, performing all over St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In 1987 he joined Astericks, touring countries like Trinidad, Barbados, and Canada. Yellows eventually moved to Canada in 1988. He worked as a freelance singer with various bands – Instant Jam, Steady Vibes, Tempo, and Faze, settling down with soca band Mose Revolution, the #1 soca band in Toronto. Yellows won the 2002 Canadian Soca Monarch title. He has been a featured singer in the Forum Calypso tent for 15 years.
