BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE very talented and vibrant Clement Ogarro, also know by his stage name ‘Monarch’, has had four National Junior Calypso titles under his belt. But where did it all start for this former champion?
Seated in his office at ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation, Ogarro told SKNVibes Entertainment that his Calypso career had its genesis in 1973 when he participated in the first National Carnival Junior Calypso Competition.
“Well the Calypso of its self started in 1973. But I think the interest for singing was always there because back in those days I went to church, Sunday school and for some reason I found myself singing,” Ogarro said.
Monarch, who is originally from Boyd’s Village, said that his father was a musician used to play the String Bass in one of the popular bands of St. Kitts and Nevis. “I only heard about it, I never really saw him perform,” he said.
The former junior king said that in 1973, while a student at the Basseterre Junior High School, he decided to enter the Junior Calypso Competition, which was his first time ever performing in front of a large crowd.
“Back then we had a Junior High and a Senior High. The summer of 1973 in the Junior High School had a junior calypso competition and, if I am not mistaken, that was probably the first one held in St. Kitts.”
He added that the competition was organised by former Calypso King Irvin Sweeny, popularly known as ‘King Sweeny’.
“I went to the Junior High School in September of that year and they started to talk about the competition and they said this is good idea for the Carnival, and so the National Junior Calypso Competition was born,” Ogarro said.
Ogarro said that he become involved with calypsonians such as ‘Lord Kut’ and ‘Sheeka’, who both competed at the Basseterre Junior High School Calypso competition.
One of the significant events during that year was the Black Roots Calypso tent which was run by Juni Liburd of Freedom FM and King Sweeny. They had brought a calypsonian called ‘Chalk Dust’ as a guest to perform.
“He held a workshop which I attended and that was also one of the influences in entering the competition. So that’s where it all started, in the Junior Calypso Competition back in 1973 when it was initiated in St. Kitts,” Ogarro said.
There is still much more to come. Look out for Part Two in which Ogarro talks about his years competing in the senior level, where he got his name and what he has been up to these past years.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: SKNVibes solicits suggestions from the public in identifying other individuals who have made significant contributions to the Calypso art form in St. Kitts and Nevis. Feel free to email us at newsroom@sknvibes.com or call us at (869) 466-9242 or (869) 662-3901 and pass on the relevant information.
