Pellau Magazine

When young Anthony Batson performed his winning rendition, “Legendary Sundar” at the 2012 Schools National Carnival Chutney Soca Monarch Competition at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Monday, the crowd was in awe as Batson, who paid tribute to Sundar Popo with the lyrics of the song, sounded uncannily similar to the late chutney singer and cultural icon.

This rising star, who hails from Palm Avenue, in the quiet fishing village of Carli Bay, Couva, lives approximately two and a half miles from the renowned Temple in the Sea in Central Trinidad.

As a young lad, Batson, now 18, spent a considerable amount of time with his neighbour and the Temple’s caretaker, David Soodeen, where he was exposed to many bhajans and Indian film songs. He developed a love for this type of music by listening and singing along and in 2010 when the eight temples in the area held a singing competition, Batson won, with a magical rendition of Indian playback singer Mohammed Rafi’s “Suhani Raat”.

The Form 5 student of Couva West Secondary School also received a lot of support from his school. In fact, his winning song at Monday’s junior chutney soca monarch competition was written and composed by the school’s music teacher, Charran Singh, who recognised his tremendous potential early on. In addition, the school provided him with back up singers, dancers, tabla players and actors and on the day of the competition itself three buses of supporters from the school were at the Savannah to support him.

He also received a lot of encouragement from his community. About two years ago he sang a bhajan (devotional song) at a ramayan in his hometown and the officiating pundit, Dave Rampersad, was so impressed that he encouraged him to join the ramayan group in Upper McBean where he has remained a member for the last two years. He is also a member of the National Chutney Calypso Touring Tent where he performed to a very appreciative audience in Couva on Wednesday night. Of very humble origins, Batson grew up with his grandmother, June Diaz and has one sister, Shanice.



According to Diaz, Batson is well liked in the village, and “can be considered to be a spoilt child”. She is extremely proud of him and hopes that he continues to progress and have further success in his singing career.

After all Batson is no stranger to competition. In 2010 he placed fifth in the Annual Secondary School Eco Song Competition, and last year he placed second in the Junior Soca Monarch Competition (secondary schools category) and third in the Brickfield Village Council 12th Annual Singing Competition, the latter featuring film songs and traditional chutney.

Apart from singing, Batson loves to play video games and is a huge fan of Smack Down Wrestling, his favourite wrestler being the Undertaker. He only recently received his driver’s permit and is very excited about driving. He said his prize winnings of $3,000 will go towards the purchase of a vehicle but given his track record and tremendous talent he may achieve much greater things in the not too distant future.

A few months shy of the 12th anniversary of Sundar Popo’s death, there is perhaps, no better tribute to him, than the selection “Legendary Sundar” as performed by the 2012 Junior Chutney Soca Monarch, Anthony Batson. The pioneering singer and musician would have certainly been proud.