Sundar Popo

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Manjira, Khartal
Years active1969–2000
LabelsWindsor Records / JMC Records

Sundar Popo HBM, born Sundarlal Popo Bahora (pronounced [suⁿd̪ərəlɑːlə poːpoː bəɦoːrɑː]; 4 November 1943 – 2 May 2000) was a Trinidadian and Tobagonian musician. He is credited as being the father of Chutney music, beginning with his 1969 hit Nana and Nani.

Early life

Popo was born on 4 November 1943 in Monkey Town,

mandirs and weddings in his hometown for 15 to 30 cents a show. Popo worked as a watchman at a Barrackpore factory, and trained in music under the Indian classical singer Ustad James Ramsawak.[1]

Career

In 1969, at a mattikoor in

Indian maternal grandmother (Nani) and maternal grandfather (Nana), Mohammed got maestro Harry Mahabir to record the song at Television House, accompanied by the British West Indies Airways (BWIA) National Indian Orchestra. The song revolutionized Indian music in Trinidad and Tobago. After the success of Nani and Nana, Popo devoted more of his time to his singing career. He followed Nani and Nana with an album combining local Trinidadian music with traditional Indian folk music. In total, he recorded more than 15 albums. He is best known for his song Scorpion Gyul, which spoke about love, death, and happiness. His other hits include Oh My Lover, Caroni Gyal (also known as Ladies and Gentlemen), Don't Fall in Love, Parbatee, Surajie My Darlin', Awoh My Darling, Pholourie Bina Chutney (also known as Kaise Bani), Your Mother's Love, Ratiya May Dulaha, Hum Na Jaibe, Phoolbasiya, Chalbo Ke Nahin, Subhagie Gyul, Is You and You Alone Gyul, Naina Bandh, Hamaray Lal, Dulaha Ke Maiya, Bahuwa Cheleli, Chal ka Chal, Kahaa Gayaa Gori Naina May Jadu Dar Kay, Baujie Rahan Chalan, Barasaatawa May Bangala, Sagar Paniya, Chaadar Beechawo Baalma, Ab Na Jaibe, Jo Bolay Saiya, Indian Arrival, Giyara Jargail Hamar, Chahay Bolo, Aao Chalo Bhaiyo aur Beheno Mastana Bahar (also known as Trinidad and Tobago Land of Calypso), Saiyan Toray, Aaj Mere Dost ke Aya Janamdin (also known as Happy Birthday), Aaye Re (also known as Diwali Bhajan), Rampersad, and Saas More Lage (also known as I Wish I Was A Virgin). Babla and Kanchan had success with their version of his "Pholourie Bina Chutney".[1]

After the release of Nani and Nana, he followed up shortly in the mid 1970s with a string of popular singles and appearances on Mastana Bahar and the Indian Cultural Pageants. His singles were then released on his first LP, Come Dance With The Champ (1979). Through Moean's Mohammed's Windsor Records, his singles and early 1980s LPs were distributed throughout the Caribbean, South America, North America and Europe with assistance from Rohit Jagessar and various other producers and record store owners. By the late 1980s, he started making frequent appearances outside of the Caribbean to perform. He appeared as a headliner in New York. He performed with international Indian stars Babla and Kanchan, Anup Jalota, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kishore Kumar. Popo also performed with numerous Chutney artists and other Trinidadian and Caribbean artists.

Popo won many awards during his career, and in 1995 Black Stalin won the Trinidad and Tobago Calypso Monarch title with his Tribute to Sundar Popo. There are also other tributes to Popo done by Devannand Gatto, Terry Gajraj, Rikki Jai, Ravi Bissambhar, Brian Mohan, Anthony Batson, Superblue, Dave Lall, Drupatee Ramgoonai, and Chris Garcia.[1] In addition to his solo albums, Popo has also released collaborations with Babla and Kanchan, Anand Yankarran (brother of Rakesh Yankarran), and JMC Triveni.

Death and legacy

Statue of Sundar Popo in Debe

While Popo had recorded and performed prolifically since the late 1960s, failing health and eyesight forced him to slow down. At the 2000 Chutney Monarch competition, his performance had to be cut short after one song, and he played his final concert on 1 April 2000, in

Bollywood movie Dabangg 2. There are negotiations going on to rename Monkey Town, the small village Popo was from, to Sundar Popo Village and to rename the street he lived on, Lal Beharry Trace to Sundar Popo Road. There is a statue of Sundar Popo in Debe
.

Awards

Discography

Albums (LPs, EPs and CDs)

  • Come Dance with the Champ – 1979
  • Hot & Spicy (with Anup Jalota) – 1980
  • Hot & Sweet – 1981
  • The Nana and Nani Man Sings Again – 1982
  • Sundar Fever – 1985
  • The Latest, The Greatest – 1986
  • Sundar Soca – 1986
  • Indian Soca – 1987
  • Screwdriver – 1988
  • Oh My Lover – 1989
  • Nana & Nani Don't Cry – 1989
  • Sundar Popo's Heartbreak – 1990
  • Who We Go Bring Back Again? – 1991
  • Is The Spaner She Want – 1992
  • Sweet Sweet Guyana (with Anand Yankaran)- 1993
  • Children Children Respect Your Mother & Father – 1993
  • Dance Party King – 1994
  • Classic – 1994
  • Cool Yuhself With Cold Water – 1995
  • Musical Voyage: East Meets West – 1998
  • Unity – 1998
  • Friends – 2000

7" and 12"

  • Nana & Nani bw Indian Moments of Treasure – 1969
  • Play You Mas – 1971
  • Scorpion Gyul bw Phuluwrie Bina Chatnee – 1976
  • Caroni Gyul bw Ab Na Jaibay – 1978
  • Come My Darling bw Sabhagie – 1975
  • Hum Najaiba bw Tears in My Eyes – 1978
  • Maa Ka Mohabat bw Don't Fall in Love – 1977
  • Naina Bandh/Chal Ka Chal – 1986
  • Samdhin Tere/Tere Liye – 1986

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-87930-655-6
    , pp. 218–219.
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