Gayatones, 20 stars at Nu Image
Tuesday, April 26 2011

TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD -

Earthquake Productions will host TTEC Gayatones with 20 artistes at the Nu Image Entertainment Centre, New Grant, Princes Town. The show which will take place on April 30, will see the reigning Chutney Soca Monarch Rikki Jai as well as the award winning musician and music director Rishi Gayadeen.

Other big names in the entertainment business listed to perform are Satnarine Ragoo, Avinash Maharaj, Neeshan Sultan, Nadia Madoo, Adesh Samaroo, O’Neil Bhajman, Sally Sagram, and Ommar Samaroo. Dancing on the night will be husband and wife team of Rana and Susan Mohip, Sitara Baal, Kiss Natraj Dance Company, and the Dancing Sisters.

Gayatones, led by the gifted Rishi has been at the forefront of East Indian entertainment in Trinidad and Tobago for many years. Rishi took over the reins of Gayatones from his father Capil Gayadeen, and is considered a musician of extraordinary talent. At the tender age of six he began taking piano lessons and at 12 he began his musical career with Gayatones.

For the past 25 years Rishi has performed around the world as one of TT’s top keyboardists. He has performed in Canada, New York, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, England and India.

At home, he is a well known arranger and producer of chutney hits, as well as for some of the most popular soca artistes. He has worked with Machel Montano, Rikki Jai and former Chutney Monarch Rooplal Girdharie. He also produced music for chutney diva Drupatee, Nadia Madoo, Vedish Sookoo, Rakesh Yankaran, Rasika Dindial, Iwer George, Ronny Mc Intosh, and Marcia Maranda.

Gayatones remains one of the most well known Indian/crossover bands in Trinidad, performing at several top Carnival events, chutney shows, night clubs, wedding receptions, farewell nights and concerts.