Loopnews Trinidad and Tobago said on Friday that a benefit concert will be held this Saturday, May 13, at Queen’s Hall in Port-of-Spain in honor of former Trinidad and Tobago Calypso Queen Denyse Plummer, who has been diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for stage-four cancer.
The newly-formed Denyse Plummer Foundation will host its first event that will feature Plummer, Loopnews Trinidad and Tobago said.
“Entitled ‘Thankful’, the concert promises to be one to remember as it boasts a stellar cast,” it said.
It comprises fellow icons Christopher “Tambu” Herbert, Wendell Constantine and Mavis John, with melodic sounds from the likes of NISA, The St. Hillaire Brothers and Wendy Sheppard, The Pierre Sisters, the masterful tenor John Thomas, Tricia Lee Kelshall, Reverend Angela Williams, Len “Boogise” Sharpe, Blessed Messenger, Michelle Sylvester, Sean Daniel and hosted by top local actress Cecila Salazar and popular radio announcer Wendell Bompart.
Loopnews said Plummer has had “an expansive career”, stating that “from her early roots at Junior and Senior Music festival competitions while at Holy Name Convent, to talent competitions, 12 and Under, Teen Talent, and Scouting for Talent, just to name a few, her professional career took flight, as she honed her craft singing at bars and hotels throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
“Landing a job at the Chaconia Inn in Maraval, she showcased her versatility in performing all genres of music, including pop, reggae and country songs,” it said. “With all these achievements under her belt, she understood profoundly where her ‘navel string was buried’ and entered the African male-dominated areas of calypso, soca and chutney music.
“Her professional debut was in 1986 to a local audience that was not quite ready to accept a female calypsonian, far less one with a white father and black mother,” Loopnews added. “She persevered and captured many titles.”
Loopnews said that, in 1987, Plummer placed third in the National Calypso competition. In 1988, she reached the National Calypso Monarch finals and also won the Calypso Queen crown.
“By 2000, she was one of the main attractions at the Calypso Revue Tent,” Loopnews said. “Plummer won the Calypso Crown in 2001 with ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nah Leaving’”.
It said Plummer “went even further”, winning the critically-acclaimed Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem in 1989 with Whitney Houston’s “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”.
Loopnews said Plummer continued to conquer various regional and international calypso competitions, and has travelled worldwide as “an ambassador of the art form.”
After devoting her life to Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, “Plummer unashamedly began her gospel ministry and proudly spreads the message of peace, joy and love to all.
“During this difficult health journey these past few months, Plummer will emerge with a spirit of gratitude and the sound understanding that God is in charge,” Loopnews said.
