By Iana Seales
With Carifesta approaching and calypso music edging its way to a comeback after Mashramani, the focus will not only be on the reigning monarch, Young Bill Rogers. His worthy runner-up, Lester Charles will also take the spotlight among other local calypso crooners.
Charles, better known as “The Professor” has been around for some time but not long enough to be considered a veteran. His career, though extremely promising in the beginning, also did not take off with the bang he had expected. However, at the final of the Adult Calypso Competition, he was on top and firmly in control of the night’s social commentary.
But it was not enough to trounce Young Bill Rogers. The one point margin that separated the two meant quite a lot to many gathered at Linden that night but to Charles, a miss is as good as a mile. He says Rogers won it deservingly and that his year is coming — next year perhaps.
In an interview with The Scene Charles explains that he made no fuss about the results though some of his supporters felt he should have challenged it. He says his song was written a few days before the audition and could have used some more work if he’d had the time.
A plumber by profession, Charles spends his free time writing and performing his calypso pieces. He points out that plumbing is what feeds his family while calypso feeds his soul. Over the years, he has fought hard to be among the best calypsonians in the country, and it was a long and hard battle.
“Calypso is not just about putting a few verses together and singing it,” he says “it’s about having something to say and saying it in a way that makes people want to listen. And you have fun doing it too.”
“Mek ya Heights”, was his first calypso and it was well received in his adopted hometown of Aroiama in the Berbice River. Charles was born and grew up in Linden, but left to find work 16 years ago. He refers to Linden as ‘home’ and that is the place where his heart truly is.
In 2006, Charles attempted to kick off his calypso career but missed the auditions. He made a second attempt in 2007 but was eliminated after the first round. This year he was bent on making it beyond the first round but he was also not aware when the auditions were going to be held.
A relative later contacted him and provided details as to the audition date and time and urged him to try out. At the time, he had no song and no idea what he wanted to say in the song, but he started writing. Charles says he thought of Linden and how great a place it was growing up so he decided to pay tribute to the community in the song.
Did he ever! The song, called “Region Ten is the Best Region” debuted at Bartica during the semi-final round in front of an initially stunned Bartica crowd, which was reacting to the lyrics in the tune about Linden being the best region in the country. But the people warmed up to it and to Charles. Within minutes of him taking the stage, the song was a hit.
Nothing compared him for the Linden crowd and its reaction at the final a week later. From the first verse, Charles had the crowd at Linden and had their rapt with attention to the end of his electrifying performance. By the time he was finished, they were begging for an encore and many had forgotten who sang before him, that is, everyone except Bill Rogers.
Charles graciously accepted the results when they were announced and wisely so, for the Linden crowd seemed ready to challenge the decision when he was named runner-up. With a smile on his face, the dreadlocked hair calypsonian says, “I knew how they felt”, referring to residents in Linden.
In addition to calypso, Charles writes reggae music but according to him, it is a more difficult sell than calypso. However, he continues to write reggae and is hoping that someday he can perform it to an appreciative audience.
Though he shot out of nowhere in the competition this year and created quite a stir, Charles was certainly on the brink of due recognition. He certainly is one to keep a close eye on. (ianaseales@yahoo.com)
