Tribute to the parang pioneersBy SEETA PERSAD Friday, November 20 2009
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Los Buenos Parranderos will be performing in Maracas tomorrow....
THE PARANG season is now in its tenth week and this weekend the action shifts to the Maracas Community Centre, Maracas, where ten top bands will share the spotlight.
Listed to perform at the event, scheduled for tomorrow at 7 pm, are La Familia De Rio, San Jose Serenaders, Los Buenos Parrenderos, Los Amigos Cantedores, Los Numeros, Courts Rio Senores, Sabor Del Caribe, La Rueda Del Agua, and Los Tocadores. There will be a special guest appearance by Los Paisanos from Diego Martin. This event is being sponsored by the National Quarries Limited.
The show is being organised by the National Parang Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NPATT), whose PRO, James Purcell, noted that parang music has come a long way in TT. “Although we have so many fusions with the parang music, there is still a big demand for the authentic music,” he said.
According to Purcell, despite the popularity of soca parang, traditional parang bands are fully booked for the season. He paid tribute to the pioneers of the art form, including Daisy Voisin, Henry Perreira, Sharlene Flores, Leon Caldero, Jacqueline Charles, Lara Brothers, Francisca Allard and Philip Allard, who have all earned their place in TT’s musical history.
In remembering the most popular singer of all times, Daisy Voisin, who died on August 7, 1991, Purcell pointed out that she was not just a parang singer but a composer.
Voisin, who lived in Siparia, began singing at community event. A deeply religious person, she claimed she had been chosen to spread the gospel through parang music. She became well-known throughout the country, singing with her group, La Divina Pastora.
“The picture of Daisy holding a bouquet of flowers and singing the religious parang is so vivid in my mind, even though she passed away 18 years ago,” Purcell said.
Daisy’s signature songs were “Hurray Hurrah” and “Alegría, Alegría”. She won the Parang Association’s Gold medal in 1983, the Humming Bird Medal (Silver) in 1988 and an NPATT Gold Medal in 1988.
Meanwhile, competition is intensifying for the National Parang title, with defending champions Los Alumnos De San Juan facing strong challenges from Amantes De Parranda, Los Amigos Cantedores, Voces Jovenes, La Rueda Del Agua, Reneter Las Familia De Mona Amigos, Courts Rio Senores La Familia de Camona y Amigos, La Familia De Rio Claro, Los Buenos Paranderos and Casa De Parranderos.
The semi-finals will come off at the St James Amphitheatre on November 28. The final competition will take place at the original home of parang in the Arima Velodrome on December 12, where eight bands will be competing for a first prize of $100,000.
A clash between traditional parang bands and the soca parang artistes will take place at B’s Complex in Moruga on December 5.
