I have several memories of Spektakula Forum, once located at Upper Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, most good and just a few different.
The home of Calypso Spektakula calypso tent, the Forum, was actually constructed by William Munro, pioneer of the International Soca Monarch competition and Kingdom of the Wizards calypso tent.
To get “the different” out of the way first, I remember attending a show in a packed Forum when an electrical fire started in the ceiling. As the venue went pitch black, the crackling sound of burning electrical wires overhead, and with patrons trampling each other in search of an exit, a huge woman flung me against the chest-high apron of the stage which I collided with face first, almost losing my teeth.
To understand the genesis of Calypso Spektakula however one has to go back almost half century ago when the late Claude Martineau ran National Music music shop on Queen Street.
He was subsequently joined by his younger sibling Frank who, at the age of 17, and graduating from school, was ten years younger than Claude.
The one thing the brothers loved as much as selling the latest albums to music-hungry Trinis was calypso and calypsonians.
When they realised the Forum was up for rental, in 1982 they seized the opportunity and immediately occupied the new, state of the art, air-conditioned entertainment facility which boasted a seating capacity of 2,400.
In this new quest among the equally minded young entrepreneurs were the late Bunny Cumberbatch, Lennox Toussaint and Earl Patterson. The first signees to Calypso Spektakula and the new vision for calypso were reigning National Calypso Monarch Chalkdust, emcee Tommy Joseph and Roy Cape Kaiso All Stars.
The calypso tent also incorporated professional dancers to accompany some of the calypsonians and featured the most popular acts from across the other Caribbean islands and the US including Arrow, Becket and Swallow.
Aside from Chalkdust, calypsonians who have reached the pinnacle of the art form and have graced the Forum stage include David Rudder and Machel Montano, both joining the cast in 1986, SuperBlue, Tambu, Gypsy and Barbadian Edwin Yearwood.
A brighter day for calypso With the coming of Calypso Spektakula, upper Henry Street became the Mecca for calypso as obliquely opposite the Forum, the late Jazzy Pantin and Sonny Woodley had relocated Kitchener’s Calypso Revue. The street at night became a beehive of activity nightly, attracting local and overseas visitors in droves, all coming to hear the best calypsonians with the best calypsoes. People, from the regular working man to the wealthiest personality, flocked to the Forum’s doors to catch the premiere of what was then the most exciting tent on the calypso circuit and they packed the Forum every night throughout the season.
This was certainly a golden age for calypso. Calypso Spektakula was the production that set new standards for calypso tents from its debut. The producers introduced the latest lighting and lighting effects technology of the day and also employed the most advanced sound system; patrons sat on plush seats; and, the artistes were accommodated in well-appointed dressing rooms.
Calypso through the years For well over 25 years Calypso Spektakula presented the most sought after calypsonians and soca artistes of the day, as well as served as the nurturing ground for artistes that would eventually stand among the best of the best.
Calypso Spektakula treated patrons not only with great performances featuring the top artistes delivering calypsoes, exploring social and political issues through either stinging lyrics or humour, but also the hottest soca, chutney soca and ragga soca.
In 2018 Spektakula Promotions is relighting the flame of Calypso Spektakula on Thursday, January 25, at Centre of Excellence, Macoya; Friday 26 at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (Sapa), San Fernando; Saturday 27 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (Napa); and, Sunday 28 at Clifton Hill Beach Club, Point Fortin. These shows will be a nostalgic journey revisiting the Great Nostalgic Calypsoes of yesteryear and the 25-plus glorious years of Calypso Spektakula.
Spectacular cast of calypsonians I remember in the ’80s, around Christmas, SuperBlue would visit me at Impact Disco, which I managed on Frederick Street, to give me and patrons a first listen to what he predicted would be not just a hit but the Road March for the following year’s carnival.
One Christmas Eve Day, with patrons in tow and like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn, SuperBlue (then Blue Boy) and his then manager Romeo Abraham) proceeded from the disco up Frederick Street singing eventual 1983 Road March Rebecca.
The procession made its way along Park Street and turned back when we got to Spektakula Forum, symbolically the Valhalla of calypso.
Calypso Spektakula was the place where David Rudder launched his campaign to compete in the National Calypso Monarch competition, which he won in 1986 along with two other coveted titles, the National Road March and Young King titles making him the first ever triple-crown winner.
Rudder remained at these Calypso Spektakula shows even as his international career took off. Rudder will also be performing at the show.
Also on stage for Calypso Spektakula Thru the Years 2018 will be Chalkdust, the national calypso monarch record-holder, with nine victories to his credit; and, Trinidad Rio, who built a fine career at Calypso Spektakula with his unique brand of humorous social and political commentary, and also storytelling through comedic calypsoes. King of humorous calypsoes Funny will also perform at these shows along with Luta and the world’s most proficient extempo calypsonian Winston “Gypsy” Peters. Also billed are 3Canal, Baron, Relator, Rikki Jai, Iwer, Ronnie Mc Intosh, Tony Prescott, and from Barbados Rupee and Edwin Yearwood. For this year’s production, Spektakula Promotions has also embarked on paying tribute to some of icons of calypso. Patrons are expected to be mesmerised by Nailah Blackman paying tribute to her grandfather Ras Shorty I and two-time national calypso monarch Chuck Gordon paying tribute to the Mighty Sparrow.
These are only some of the artistes in the impressive line-up for shows that will be hosted by Tommy Joseph who had audiences in stitches nightly for the last quarter decade. Artistes will all be backed by Vincent Rivers and his band The Soca Unit.
Last Friday, Frank Martineau, Spektakula Promotions CEO, said: “There have been so many artistes that stood behind Spektakula through the years, I am sincerely hoping that those who were not selected would not get vex with Lennox (Toussaint) and myself.”
For 2018 shows are expected to sell out, so move now and get tickets early at all NLCB Lotto outlets.
