Local Vibes
May 15, 2009
Trinidad Rio to perform for Kalypso Kollege 10th Anniversary

The Kalypso Kollege, a popular vintage calypso radio programme, celebrates its 10th anniversary this month with a show called “Tribute to Kaiso”.{{more}}

The featured artiste on that show will be Trinidad Rio. This is Rio’s second performance in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, the first time being nine years ago as the featured artiste in the Kalypso Kollege’s first concert – “The return of Trinidad Rio”. Rio, whose real name is Daniel Browne, has performed in London, Seattle, Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean. However, he revealed that St.Vincent and the Grenadines is one of his favourite places to perform. “It is the only other place where I truly feel at home” he said. Rio’s father, Major Browne, is from St.Vincent and the Grenadines.

Trinidad Rio started his career as a child, and started singing professionally in 1970. He has appeared on the cast of all of the major Calypso Tents in Trinidad and Tobago, his last being the Spectacular Forum. He reflected on his career and noted: “I have made my living from Calypso. I’ve seen ups and downs and ins and outs, but I am driven by the fact that I have won the heart of the people – this is important to me”.

Although no longer attached to a Calypso tent, Rio travels Trinidad and Tobago and the rest of the Caribbean performing with noted Trinidadian calypsonians Luta and Lord Funny.

The Kalypso Kollege is hosted by Attorney-at-law Stephen Huggins and broadcast on WE FM 99.9 on Monday nights from 8 – 10 pm.

The show “Tribute to Kaiso” will take place on May 23rd, 2009, at the Aquatic Club. Rio has promised to perform all of his crowd favourites, including Back to Basics, Cups and Travelling Man. The show will also feature performances from outstanding Vincentian artistes, including Bro Ebony Poorsah, Skarpyon, Singing Shaunelle, Maddzart and Bomani. The MC is Courts comedy champion “the Candyman, and the night’s dj is 2Kool Kris.