Harvard Club celebrates 80th anniversary

As part of its 80th anniversary celebrations the Harvard Club staged a cultural showcase that featured eight club members singing selections from calypso icons.

The cast was accompanied by the band Steve Neaves and Zu Zung Geng that comprised Russell Durity on bass, Richard Joseph on drums, Patrick Johnson on keyboard, Titus Tannis, Anthony Cambridge and Kensa Thomas on horns, and Neaves on guitar.

Urchin (Valentino Singh) opened with Sparrow’s Memories – changing the original names in the calypso to those of deceased Harvard members who contributed significantly to the club over the years. The changes resonated positively with the audience and earned him favourable applause.

Kenjah (Kenrick Jarvis) then delivered Duke’s What is Calypso, before Duckington (Elliot Mc Kell) tickled the audience with a medley of Lord Melody's songs.

Look Meh (Martin Lewis) opted for his own composition titled Mr Love, after which De Electric Man (Nolan Serrette) had the audience singing and swaying to Black Stalin’s Look on the Bright Side.

Lady Rampy (Joan Rampersad) chose Calypso Rose’s Back to Africa that left some of her friends and family wildly applauding her effort.

Peter Cipriani’s near perfect renditions of Puppet Master’s The Greatest Love, and Stalin’s Black Man Feeling To Party had the audience all rapt up in his performance.'

The final singer, the Mighty Goose (Ronald Ray Robinson), had the audience singing along to Blakie's Steelband Clash.

Relator (Willard Harris), a former club member, was specially recognised for his contribution to the calypso art form at the club, as well as nationally. As he was about to leave the stage, the audience coaxed him into singing a number or two, to which he obliged. He sang a medley of hits, delighting his audience in the process.

Also receiving awards were Reynold Howard and Gary Dore, who were also instrumental in promoting calypso at the club.

Resident steelband The Harvard Harps kept the audience in a festive mood as the band capped off the night's entertainment.