Pichakaree champ in Young Kings finals
Saturday, February 19 2011

TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - Former Pichakaree Champion, Jagdeo Phagoo, has once more thrown his hat in the calypso ring and is now a finalist at the Young Kings competition. The event, in which 20 calypsonians are scheduled to do battle for the prestigious crown, will take place at the National Academy for Performing Arts on Monday from 8 pm.

Other finalists include Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart, Dee Diamond (Denesian Moses), Derrick Seales, Devon Matthews, William “Dr Will B” Bannister, Duane O’Connor, Ramdeen “Falco” Maharaj, Jadee (Jerry Dane Sellier), Jagdeo Phagoo, M’ba (Gary Thomasos), Mr King (Marvin Lewis), Ninja (Kenson Neptune), Peter Cipriani, Roderick Gordon (Chucky), Sekon Alves, Sheldon Nugget, Stephen Marcelle, Olatunji, Benjai and a performer from Tobago.

Phagoo, from SS Erin Road in Penal, has made great strides in the world of chutney and calypso. This year he caught the eye of the Minister of Culture of Antigua Eleston “Namba” Adams who contracted Phagoo to write songs for him. “I have decided to concentrate on the Caribbean as one body and deal with issues that will affect people across the board,” Phagoo said. He has since penned a song on global warming to be released in Antigua later this year.

Phagoo who has taken the Pichakaree crown on five occasions is now aiming for the Young King crown. He has been singing his own compositions for many years now. His new composition, “Indianism” earned him a place in this year’s Young Kings finals, while his song, ‘Football Fever’ earned him a place in the National Chutney Soca Monarch finals last year.

Phagoo is a contractor with Petrotrin and a businessman.

He has been active in promoting sports and other cultural activities in the Penal area. Apart from this Phagoo, who is a certified International Badminton Federation Coach, managed the Trinidad and Tobago Badmington team from 1987 to 1991. He toured Jamaica, Curacao, Suriname, Guyana, Peru and the United States during this time.

Phagoo is also an accomplished musician having mastered the harmonium, mandolin and the keyboard. He has given up coaching for the time being to concentrate on composing and singing.

“I am very interested in calypso and I intend to join a tent and promote my calypsoes in the future. As a singer/composer living in this country, I feel the need to experiment on the different stages,” he said. He is well known for doing dramatic performances while on stage. For the Young King competition he will be presenting one of his dramatic stints complete with props.

He is already working on a tune to participate in Pichakaree which will be held March 20 at the Hindu Prachaar Kendra.