ALL around Guyana, groups, entities and private individuals are in a frenzy preparing for the Mashramani 2014 celebrations!

Designers are unleashing their creativity in the form of dazzling floats and road parade costumes, and those in the Diaspora are preparing to return home for the annual festivities!

John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul

A talented son of the soil resident in Canada, is readying himself to travel home to launch what he dubs his ‘Guyana Get Fit’ 2014 Mash Band, which will be launched as soon as he arrives; and that is shortly!

In an exclusive telephone interview with this publication, John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul related that he is ‘ready and raring’ to go this year; and will, of course, bring to the platter his customary glitz, colour, and the laughter associated with his entrance at the annual Mashramani celebrations.

While he has indicated that his Mash Band will be launched in the shortest possible time, he noted that the ‘Guyana Get Fit’ theme was chosen as his strategy to tackle an important health issue and raise awareness of the need for Guyanese to adopt healthy lifestyles.

He disclosed that his costumes would be depicting the dangers of obesity and its related illnesses, and the need for individuals to get fit in 2014 to ensure they live longer and healthier.

The female costumes are indeed colourful and enticing, but are certainly not scandalous, according to Drepaul; while the male pieces would be a fusion of creativity, showcasing sporting activities as methods that can be used to get fit and stay healthy.

With a certain refreshing originality reinforced by an indomitable will, ‘Slingshot’ as he is more popularly known, has been contributing largely to the world of music and entertainment, both locally and internationally.

Residing in Florida is no deterrent to the proud Guyanese son, who would always explain that his journey to relative fame did not happen without intense sacrifice and periods of great adversity.

John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul and his wife Ingrid have participated in many Mashramani celebration. Their presence has brought a remarkable breath of fresh air to the event, with a wonderful and wholesome portrayal of very good themes, both along the route to the National Park and around the city.

Ever philosophical, Drepaul opines that local musicians should concentrate on originality and avoid the foreign accents many often adopt.

‘Slingshot’ is a household name, because his music and videos, particularly the latter, are radio and TV favourites. He is today turning many heads in the Caribbean with his all-embracing pieces.

This self-taught musician, entertainer, and calypsonian, whose authentic singing style is quite refreshing, has a most colourful past.

Born at 41 William Street, Kitty, Slingshot attended schools in Kitty, Campbellville, Queenstown, and No 63 Village on the Upper Corentyne in East Berbice. Although he was born in Demerara, Slingshot grew up in what he is convinced is Guyana’s rural paradise, the Corentyne, Berbice, with No. 63 Beach as his expansive backyard.

This would later prove to be the ideal landscape and inspiration for most of his poetry, songs, and short stories.

Slingshot lived on his own in a beach house at No. 63 Beach from age 13, with no assistance from family. His stepmother had evicted him from the family home to fend for himself, and he rose to the challenge. Growing with no parental control and/or guidance was admittedly tough, but Slingshot recounted that he somehow was able to “make it through the rain”.

Slingshot related that he could not have survived were it not for schoolmates like Harold Thomas, Azeez Mohammed, and Dasrat Indar; villagers such as Sham Baker’s son, “Reds”, Jagat Narine, Amanu Shook “Rooster” Budhram, and Deochand “Post” Rupchand. The close protective shield from the likes of Shameer “Shamboy” Ally, Bobby “Sakawaat” Rohit, Joe “Best” Dulam, Harry Munsee, Lloyd Parks, and Awad “Slinger” Narine made surviving alone bearable.

Intellectual and motivational guidance came from the late Presidents Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan; late Headmasters of his alma mater, Dr. Joshua Reuben Ramsammy and Mr. Sham Sakichand Chandra; and such dear friends as Ronald Budhram, Joey Jagan, Neville Budhan, and especially teachers and mentors Pandit Ramlall and Anthony McIntosh.

He used his unfortunate circumstances to his advantage and juggled attending high school and performing with “The Lonely Bulls”, a string combo he had put together. They performed at events along the Corentyne Coast and especially in New Amsterdam. When the group disbanded, he utilised his musical talent to organise an existing group he afterwards named “Sons of India”. With them, he experimented with a fusion of English and Indian music. The word “Chutney” was not as yet coined.

During this period, Slingshot was instrumental in forming some social and sports clubs, which kept the youths in the various villages along the Upper Corentyne occupied and off the streets. Such names as “Early Risers’ Youth Club” and “Idlers Domino Club” are still remembered in the Upper Corentyne.
As a soldier stationed in Germany in the late 70s, Slingshot sharpened his song-writing skills, and his songs are insightful, satirical, at times, romantic, wonderfully humorous, and spiced with Caribbean nostalgia.

During the early 80s, Slingshot and his band, Tropical Waves, enjoyed immense popularity among West Indian party-goers in New York. They were the opening act at Madison Square Garden for Jamaican pioneering dancehall reggae artiste “Yellowman”, along with Trinidad’s “Mighty Sparrow” and “Calypso Rose”.

In the mid-80s, with “Signs of the Zodiacs”, a Brooklyn-based 13-piece brass band, Slingshot blossomed into a versatile, dynamic and innovative entertainer. He still credits that group with the disciplined brass arrangement that can be felt in his musical compositions.

Slingshot entered Guyana’s Mashramani 2004 Road March competition for the first time with his band titled, ‘Wake Up, My Guyana with Slingshot’. It won the hearts of everyone and placed first in the semi-costumed big band category.

From November 22 to 29, 2004, Slingshot got his fellow Guyanese artistes together and recorded a song (You’re Not Alone), which he and a co-lyricist wrote for the disadvantaged children of Guyana. For this and his deep concern for the welfare of others, as well as his undying love for Guyana, always expressed in his lyrics, Drepaul was awarded the Mayor’s Award of Excellence for outstanding achievements in the field of music.

The “GT Lime 2005 Award for Charitable Works” was given to him at a 2005 dinner/dance event, and he was among those selected by The Guyana Cultural Association Folk Festival 2005 Award Committee for its Wordsworth McAndrew Award. The criteria for such a prestigious award is based on several attributes, including originality, scope, impact/influence, integration, pioneering spirit, challenges and achievements.

Slingshot performs regularly at all West Indian carnival celebrations. He has made several guest appearances in clubs; on numerous TV and radio programmes in New York, UK, the Caribbean, and Guyana; and has so far released five CDs: Sweet Island Woman; Remembering; Home Sweet Home; Jump for Carnival; and Mash Fever.

This “Man for All Seasons” has an engaging Christmas CD, titled “A Very Merry Guyanese Christmas”, and his musical videos, as indicated above, are captivating.

In the videos Slingshot has incorporated the latest in DVD visual technology to correspondingly promulgate and sustain the natural beauty of his beloved Guyana. He is also editing his manuscript, titled: “From No. 63 Beach to Madison Square Garden”, which chronicles his rather interesting and unique journey through life.

Slingshot and his wife Ingrid have written, composed, and arranged over 500 songs, and have recorded eight CDs. Their compositions cover all genres of music to include Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Waltz, R&B, Chutney, and something they call “Chulhaa”. They have created an almost unique sound that is truly Guyanese, and with their innovative compositional and musical creations, have moved beyond Slingshot’s rural geographic surroundings and crossed over the racial divide.

In November 2008, Slingshot was presented with Guyana’s Accolade Award for his Soca composition “Pirates”, during the country’s first nationally recognised music awards. Previously, he was honoured by the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, Inc. with a Certificate of Appreciation in acknowledgement of his contribution to the 2004 hurricane relief effort.

Slingshot was unanimously judged the Miami 2005 Soca Monarch after edging out a predominantly Trinidadian line-up. He became the only non-Trinidadian — and Guyanese — to ever win the Miami Soca crown. He also placed third in the 2005 Miami Calypso Monarch competition.

Asked about his proudest moment in his musical journey, without hesitation Slingshot exclaimed, “Being onstage in 1982 at Madison Square Garden with my all-Guyanese band, ‘Tropical Waves’. We were the opening act for Jamaican dancehall reggae artiste, ‘Yellowman.”