Terry Gajraj

Last updated
Terry Gajraj
Born
Terry Vivekanand Gajraj

Nationality Guyanese
Other namesD' Guyana Baboo
Terry G
Musical career
OriginGuyana
Genres Chutney and Chutney-soca
Years active1989–present
LabelsMohabir Records
Website terrygajraj.com

Terry Vivekanand Gajraj is a Guyanese chutney and chutney-soca artist.

Contents

Career

Born in the village of Fyrish, near the Corentyne River, in Guyana, he is the eldest of three children and son of a school teacher. Gajraj is a Hindu of Indian descent. Gajraj began performing at the age of 5 with the Dil Bahar Orchestra. [1] [2] [3] He learned to play the harmonium and drums, and went on to work with the Star Rhythm Combo, the Original Pioneers, and the Melody Makers, before working as a teacher in his 20s at a high school in Georgetown. [1]

In the late 1980s, inspired by Sundar Popo and the increasing popularity of chutney, he decided to pursue a career in music, and he relocated to New York. [1] [4] After initially working as part of local bands, he launched a solo career in 1990, releasing the album Soca Lambada, which brought him immediate success. [1] He had a local hit in 1992 with "Tun Tun Dance", and followed it with his third album, Guyana Baboo & Pack Up: New York, split with David Ramoutar, which was also a success, 'Guyana Baboo' being synonymous with Gajraj ever since. [1] [2] [3]

His popularity spread to Trinidad and Tobago, where he performed at the Trinidad Spektakula festival and appeared on national television. [1] In 1995 he became the first Guyanese artist to perform at the T&T carnival. [1] He's also the first singer from the Caribbean to perform at India's Bollywood Music Awards. [5]

Between 1990 and 2000 he release a total of 14 albums. [1]

In 2009 he collaborated with Dheeraj Gayaram on the stage show West Indian Dreams. [6]

In 2015 he was nominated in the 'Male Soca Chutney Artiste of the Year' category at the International Soca & Chutney Awards. [7]

Discography

Compilations

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Thompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN   0-87930-655-6, pp. 109–111
  2. 1 2 Gildarie, Leonard (2013) "Singing Ambassador Terry ‘Guyana Baboo’ Gajraj is a ‘Special Person’", Kaieteur News, 17 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2016
  3. 1 2 Post, Jennifer C. (ed.) (2005) Ethnomusicology: A Contemporary Reader, Routledge, ISBN   978-0415972031, p. 289
  4. Andrews, Erline (2006) "Terry Gajraj: “I miss Guyana so much”", Caribbean Beat, Issue 82 (November/December 2006). Retrieved 26 April 2016
  5. "Terry Gajraj". Taste CT. 2022-02-06. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  6. Alleyne, Oluatoyin (2009) "Dheeraj eyes Broadway", Stabroek News, 17 October 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2016
  7. "Nominees for International Soca & Chutney Awards announced", Trinidad and Tobago Guardian , 21 August 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016