Calypso 2000 - 2009

For the Carnival Schedule from 2000 to 2030, Click here.

2000: The calypso world lost an icon on February 11, 2000, when Aldwyn Roberts, Lord Kitchener died at the age of 77. The first Carnival season of the new millennium produced controversy when Superblue was declared the Road March 2000 champion by the closest of margins over Iwer George the day after Carnival. However, after months of protest from Iwer George that eventually led to a court battle, both Superblue and Iwer George were declared joint winners by the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) on July 11, 2000. After 49 years of the modern Road March contest, it was the first time that co-champions were declared. Another calypso icon was lost when Garfield Blackman, Ras Shorty I (aka Lord Shorty) passed away on July 12, 2000, at the age of 59.

2001: The popularity of calypso tents continued to grow in the new millennium with the addition of comedians. As a result, the number of tents operating during Carnival season increased as audiences flocked to the tents to be treated to humor, in addition to calypso. The following is a listing of the tents that were functioning in 2001:

2007: By 2007, the number of calypsonians had grown tremendously, and many of the home venues of the tents had changed:

  • Kaiso House, Strand Cinema, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Shadow, Singing Sandra, Lord Nelson, Explainer, Valentino, Protector, Mudada, Poser, Rikki Jai, Count Robin, Brown Boy, Rootsman, Twiggy, Mighty Trini, Brother Resistance, Bunny B, Lasana, Hindu Prince, Brother J, Soft Touch, Kerr, D Diamond, Lioness, Caesar B, Squibby, Young Destroyer, and Sharlan Bailey).
  • Calypso Revue, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Chalkdust, Denyse Plummer, Baron, and Skatie). Sugar Aloes was not expected to perform since he was recuperating from surgery in 2006.
  • Klassic Ruso, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain (featuring Mighty Duke, Mighty Shadow, All Rounder, Contender, Ebony, Versatile, Lady Wonder, Shirlane Hendrickson, Hamidullah, Black Prince, Sexy Suzy, Dr. Will B, Typher, Doc Spicy, Sheereen Caesar, Dr. Rhythm, Almanac, and Manchild).
  • Kaiso Karavan, La Joya Auditorium, St. Joseph (featuring Stinger, Scrunter, Johnny King, Karega Mandela, Power, Lady Paula, Eunice Peters, Sheldon Nugget, and Lil Jean).
  • Vintage Kaiso, Strand Cinema, Port-of-Spain (featuring Lord Superior, Valentino, Black Stalin, Mighty Bomber, Mudada, Luta, Funny, Trinidad Rio, and Brigo).
  • Kaiso Showkase, Palms Club, San Fernando (featuring Ras Kommanda, Joseph Adams, Brian London, Heeralal Rampartap, El Drago, Lady Adanna, Nikko, and Shortpants).
  • Divas Calypso Cabaret, Mas Camp Pub, Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain (featuring Abbi Blackman, Karen Eccles, Stacy Sobers, Sista Ava, Delia, Sweet Jean, and Angela Ramoutar).

In 2007, the number of calypsoes required to be sung for the Calypso Crown competition was reduced from two to one. By the latter part of this decade, several new calypsonians had entered the calypso arena and began to make their mark in the Calypso Monarch competition: Karen Asche, Destra Garcia, Tigress (Joanne Rowley), Brian London, Kizzy Ruiz, Twiggy (Anne Marie Parks-Kojo), Stinger (Dexter Parsons), and Contender (Mark John). The following are the results of both the Road March and Calypso Crown competition during this decade.

CALYPSO COMPETITION RESULTS: 2000 - 2009
YEAR ROAD MARCH CALYPSO CROWN
2000 Pump It Up (Superblue) Mighty Shadow (What's Wrong with Me/Scratch Meh Back)
Carnival Come Back Again (Iwer George)
2001 Stranger (Mighty Shadow) Denyse Plummer (Heroes/Nah Leaving)
2002 Trinidad (Naya George) Sugar Aloes (Contribution/Jubilation)
2003 Display (Faye Ann Lyons) Singing Sandra (For Whom the Bell Tolls/Ancient Rhythm)
2004 Look de Band Coming (Shurwayne Winchester) Mighty Chalkdust (Trinidad in the Cemetery/Fish Mongrel)
2005 Dead or Alive (Shurwayne Winchester) Mighty Chalkdust (A When I Vexed, I doh Rhyme/In Town Too Long)
2006 Band of the Year (Machel Montano & Patrice Roberts) Luta (Check The Foundation/Kaiso Kaiso)
2007 Jumbie (Machel Montano) Cro Cro (Nobody Ain't Go Know)
2008 Get On (Faye Ann Lyons) Sugar Aloes (Reflections)
2009 Meet Super Blue (Faye Ann Lyons) Mighty Chalkdust (My Heart and I)

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