Jump to content

Drupatee Ramgoonai: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
DN tag
m replacing {{IPA-hi| → {{IPA|hi| (deprecated template)
 
(41 intermediate revisions by 25 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Drupatee Ramgoonai''' (born 6 March 1958 in Charlo Village, [[Penal]], [[Saint Patrick County]], [[Penal-Debe Regional Corporation|Penal-Debe]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]]) is a [[Indo-Trinidadian]] [[chutney music|chutney]] and [[chutney soca]] musician. She was responsible for coining the term "chutney soca" in 1987 with her first album, entitled ''Chutney Soca'', which included both [[Trinidadian English|English]] and [[Caribbean Hindustani|Hindustani]] versions of the songs. She had her biggest hit the following year when her "(Roll Up the [[Tassa]]) [[Naya Zamana|Mr. Bissessar]]{{dn|date=February 2017}}" was a [[Road March]] contender. She was instrumental in [[tassa]] and Chutney Soca finding its place in Carnival and her efforts later led to competitions such as Chutney Soca Monarch.
'''Drupatee Ramgoonai''' ({{IPA|hi|drʊpəti raːməɡʊɳaːjə|pron}}; born 2 March 1958) is a [[Trinidadians and Tobagonians|Trinidadian and Tobagonian]] [[chutney music|chutney]] and [[chutney soca]] musician. She was responsible for coining the term "chutney soca" in 1987 with her first album, entitled ''Chutney Soca'', which included both [[Trinidadian English|English]] and [[Caribbean Hindustani|Hindustani]] versions of the songs. She had her biggest hit the following year when her "(Roll Up the [[Tassa]]) Mr. Bissessar" was a [[Road March]] contender. She was instrumental in [[tassa]] and [[Chutney Soca|chutney soca]] finding its place in [[Trinidad and Tobago Carnival|Carnival]] and her efforts later led to competitions such as Chutney Soca Monarch.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Drupatee Ramgoonai was born in Sunrees Road, Charlo Village, [[Penal]], [[Saint Patrick County]], [[Penal-Debe Regional Corporation|Penal-Debe]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], on 2 March 1958. She started singing alongside her mother in the [[Hindu temple|mandir]] at a young age, then went on to learn Classical singing at the feet of her trainer Ustad James Ramsewak, a veteran in the field.<ref name=Niranjana98>Tejaswini Niranjana, ''Mobilizing India: Women, Music, and Migration between India and Trinidad'', Durham, North Carolina: Duke University, 2000. ISBN 0-8223-3828-9, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&pg=PA98&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Drupatee%20Ramgoonai&f=false p. 98].</ref> She also gained exposure on Mastana Bahar, the Indian Cultural Pageant, winning the local song category in 1983 and 1984.<ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&pg=PA98&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=Mastana%20Bahar%2C%20the%20Indian%20cultural%20pageant&f=false pp. 98–99].</ref> Her repertoire back then included local classical, [[Bhajan|bhajans]], local songs and film songs. She also had some formal vocal training in [[Indian classical music|Indian Classical music]] from classes under the acclaimed Professor Adesh.
Drupatee Ramgoonai was born on Sunrees Road in Charlo Village, [[Penal]], [[Saint Patrick County]], (present-day region of [[Penal-Debe Regional Corporation|Penal-Debe]]) , [[Trinidad and Tobago]], on 2 March 1958 into a [[Hindu]] [[Indo-Trinidadian|Indian]] family. She started singing alongside her mother in the [[Hindu temple|mandir]] at a young age, then went on to learn [[Indian classical music|Indian classical singing]] from her trainer Ustad James Ramsewak, a veteran in the field.<ref name=Niranjana98>Tejaswini Niranjana, ''Mobilizing India: Women, Music, and Migration between India and Trinidad'', Durham, North Carolina: Duke University, 2000. {{ISBN|0-8223-3828-9}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&pg=PA98 p. 98].</ref> She also gained exposure on Mastana Bahar, the Indian Cultural Pageant, winning the local song category in 1983 and 1984.<ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&q=Mastana+Bahar%2C+the+Indian+cultural+pageant&pg=PA98 pp. 98–99].</ref>


Ramgoonai recorded her first crossover tune in 1987, entitled "Chutney Soca", and gained moderate success in the calypso tents.<ref name=Niranjana100>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&pg=PA98&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=She%20became%20a%20regular%20performer%20in%20the%20Carnival%20calypso%20tents&f=false p. 100].</ref> The following year she had her mega hit "Mr Bissessar (Roll Up de Tassa)", which brought her international acclaim and served as the nursery for this genre of music called chutney soca, resulting in a commercial market being created for this type of music as well.<ref>Dave Thompson, ''Reggae and Caribbean Music'', San Francisco: Backbeat, 2001, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, [https://books.google.com/books?id=5HtSqfDKfKQC&pg=PA72&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Drupatee%20Ramgoonai&f=false p. 72].</ref> She was consistent for many years with hits such as "Pepper", "Hotter Than a Chulha", "Careless Driver", "Motilal", "Tassawalley", and "Manzalina" and even the monster hit "Wuk Up D Ladki" with [[Machel Montano]].<ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&pg=PA98&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=meeting%20of%20the%20Ganges%20and%20the%20Nile&f=false p. 167].</ref> Her more recent contributions include "Mohana bina Gowna", "Doh Beat Yuh Wife", "Parosin Maco-ing", "D Wedding Song", "Chutney Soca Wine", and "Violin".
Ramgoonai recorded her first crossover tune in 1987, entitled "Chutney Soca", and gained moderate success in the calypso tents. The term [[chutney soca]] was first coined by Drupatee Ramgoonai with that crossover tune "Chutney Soca" in 1987 and Ramgoonai is considered the mother of chutney soca.<ref name=Niranjana100>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&q=She+became+a+regular+performer+in+the+Carnival+calypso+tents&pg=PA98 p. 100].</ref> The following year, she released "Mr Bissessar (Roll Up de Tassa)".<ref>Dave Thompson, ''Reggae and Caribbean Music'', San Francisco: Backbeat, 2001, {{ISBN|0-87930-655-6}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=5HtSqfDKfKQC&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&pg=PA72 p. 72].</ref> She has also released songs such as "Pepper", "Hotter Than a Chulha", "Careless Driver", "Motilal", "Tassawalley", and "Manzalina" and "Wuk Up D Ladki" with [[Machel Montano]].<ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&q=meeting+of+the+Ganges+and+the+Nile&pg=PA98 p. 167].</ref>


⚫
She created history as being the first woman of [[Indo-Trinidadian|Indian descent]] to sing [[Calypso music|calypso]] and [[Soca music|soca]]<ref name=Niranjana98/><ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&q=singers+of+East+Indian+origin&pg=PA98 p. 150].</ref> and has been one of the main targets of those who are scandalised by women and Indians singing [[Chutney music|chutney]], [[Chutney Soca|chutney soca]], calypso, and soca.<ref name=Niranjana100/><ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&q=denigration+of+Indian+history+and+culture&pg=PA98 p. 86].</ref><ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&q=has+chosen+to+worship+the+God+of+sex&pg=PA98 p. 113].</ref><ref>Ronald Michael Radano, Philip Vilas Bohlman, ''Music and the Racial Imagination'', Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000, {{ISBN|0-226-70199-9}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=IlwHxbQ-ckcC&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&pg=PA333 p. 333].</ref><ref>Shalini Puri, ''The Caribbean Postcolonial: Social Equality, Post-Nationalism, and Cultural Hybridity'', New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, {{ISBN|1-4039-6181-6}}, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4kzpnoYfpQC&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&pg=PA196 p. 196].</ref>
She has won Nafieta awards and various trophies plus other awards for her unmatched contribution to Chutney Soca music. She almost won the Road March title in Trinidad and Tobago in 1988, coming second.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} She is regarded as the Chutney Soca Queen for the blending of these musical styles in some of her songs like "Chutney Soca", "Hotter than a Chulha" and Special Brew. In recent years she has even started doing [[parang|soca parang]] at Christmas time with songs such as "Chutney Parang" and "Fruit Cake".


In 2016 Drupatee signed an exclusive digital distribution agreement with [[Fox Fuse]], making her entire music catalog available digitally worldwide for the first time.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/caribbeat-chutney-queen-branches-digital-deal-article-1.2645237 "CARIBBEAT: Chutney queen Drupatee branches out with exclusive digital deal"], ''New York Daily News'', 22 May 2016.</ref>
⚫
She created history as being the first woman of [[Indo-Caribbean|East Indian descent]] to sing calypso/soca<ref name=Niranjana98/><ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&pg=PA98&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=singers%20of%20East%20Indian%20origin&f=false p. 150].</ref> and has been one of the main targets of those who are scandalised by women and East Indians singing Chutney and Calypso/Soca.<ref name=Niranjana100/><ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&pg=PA98&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=denigration%20of%20Indian%20history%20and%20culture&f=false p. 86].</ref><ref>Niranjana, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RrnTU4HJc6cC&pg=PA98&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=has%20chosen%20to%20worship%20the%20God%20of%20sex&f=false p. 113].</ref><ref>Ronald Michael Radano, Philip Vilas Bohlman, ''Music and the Racial Imagination'', Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000, ISBN 0-226-70199-9, [https://books.google.com/books?id=IlwHxbQ-ckcC&pg=PA333&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Drupatee%20Ramgoonai&f=false p. 333].</ref><ref>Shalini Puri, ''The Caribbean Postcolonial: Social Equality, Post-Nationalism, and Cultural Hybridity'', New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, ISBN 1-4039-6181-6, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Q4kzpnoYfpQC&pg=PA196&dq=Drupatee+Ramgoonai&hl=en&ei=ejiaTKrJCM7Lswbq6ayTDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Drupatee%20Ramgoonai&f=false p. 196].</ref>

She is well known throughout the world for her hot and spicy Chutney soca performances. She has performed throughout the Caribbean, North America, Europe and even India alongside many internationally renowned stars. Up to this day she continues to release tasteful music and do various performances across the globe and is still a force to be reckoned with. In Kumar Mahabir's publication ''Portraits of Chutney Singers in Trinidad and Tobago'' (2012) she was hailed as the "undisputed Chutney Queen".<ref>[http://www.trinidadexpress.com/woman-magazine/Drupatee_Ramgoonai-188453861.html?m=y&smobile=y "Drupatee Ramgoonai"], ''Trinidad Express – Woman Magazine'', 25 January 2013.</ref> In 2016 Drupatee signed an exclusive digital distribution agreement with [[Fox Fuse]], making her entire music catalog available digitally worldwide for the first time.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/caribbeat-chutney-queen-branches-digital-deal-article-1.2645237 "CARIBBEAT: Chutney queen Drupatee branches out with exclusive digital deal"], ''New York Daily News'', May 22, 2016.</ref>


==Collaborations==
==Collaborations==
*"Indian Gyal" – Drupatee & Machel Montano
*"Indian Gyal" – Drupatee and [[Machel Montano]]
*"Real Unity" – Drupatee & Machel Montano
*"Real Unity" – Drupatee and [[Machel Montano]]
*"Nani Wine Remix" – Drupatee & [[Crazy (calypsonian)|Crazy]]
*"Nani Wine Remix" – Drupatee and [[Crazy (calypsonian)|Crazy]]
*"Curry Tabanca" – Drupatee & Mighty Trini
*"Curry Tabanca" – Drupatee and Mighty Trini
*"Roll Up De Tassa" – Drupatee, ft. [[Alison Hinds]]
*"Roll Up De Tassa" – Drupatee, ft. [[Alison Hinds]]
*"Be Mines Tonight" – Drupatee & Blazer
*"Be Mines Tonight" – Drupatee and Blazer
*"Jep Sting Naina" – Drupatee, ft. [[Lalchan Babwa (Hunter)]], [[Neeshan Prabhoo]], [[Ravi Bissambhar]], [[Anil Bheem]], [[Andy Singh]]
*"Jep Sting Naina" – Drupatee, ft. Hunter (Lalchan Babwa), [[Neeshan Prabhoo|D'Hitman (Neeshan Prabhoo)]], [[Ravi Bissambhar]], Anil Bheem, and Andy Singh
* "Nazron Se Kehdo" - Drupatee & Satnarine Ragoo
* "Nazron Se Kehdo" - Drupatee and Satnarine Ragoo
* "Mujko Thand" -Drupatee & D Hitman
* "Mujko Thand" -Drupatee and [[Neeshan Prabhoo|D'Hitman (Neeshan Prabhoo)]]


<!--Drupatee’s crossover tune "Chutney Soca" (1987) developed a new genre of music. The following year her mega hit “Roll up de Tassa” won international acclaim and served as the nursery for this genre of music called CHUTNEY SOCA resulting in a commercial market being created. She coined the term Chutney Soca in her first album Chatnee Soca(1987) carrying both Hindi and English versions of the said song. Back then she spelt it as Chatnee Soca. This was the first time these two words were ever used together.
<!--Drupatee’s crossover tune "Chutney Soca" (1987) developed a new genre of music. The following year her mega hit “Roll up de Tassa” won international acclaim and served as the nursery for this genre of music called CHUTNEY SOCA resulting in a commercial market being created. She coined the term Chutney Soca in her first album Chatnee Soca(1987) carrying both Hindi and English versions of the said song. Back then she spelt it as Chatnee Soca. This was the first time these two words were ever used together.
She was instrumental in having tassa and Chutney Soca finding its place in Carnival and paved the way for many. Her efforts later allowed competitions like Chutney Soca Monarch.
She was instrumental in having Tassa and Chutney Soca find their place in Carnival and paved the way for many. Her efforts later allowed competitions like Chutney Soca Monarch.
Drupatee has won Nafieta awards, trophies, NY’s Sunshine Award, MIC’s award by the Indo Caribbean Community of Canada plus awards for her unmatched contribution to Chutney Soca. She’s regarded as the Chutney Soca Queen of the World. Blending of these musical styles were messages in her songs "Chutney Soca", "Hotter than a Chulha", "Special Brew" and "Real Unity" with Machel.
Drupatee has won Nafieta awards, trophies, NY’s Sunshine Award, MIC’s award by the Indo-Caribbean Community of Canada plus awards for her unmatched contribution to Chutney Soca. She’s regarded as the Chutney Soca Queen of the World. The blending of these musical styles were messages in her songs "Chutney Soca", "Hotter than a Chulha", "Special Brew" and "Real Unity" with Machel.
She has toured North America, Europe, the Caribbean & India representing T&T as a Chutney Soca Ambassador. Dr Kumar Mahabir’s recent magazine ''Portraits of Chutney Singers'', hailed her as the “Undisputed Chutney Queen”. She’s the most popular Indian female artist known for originality & has made a “dent” on the musical landscape within the past three decades. She started singing in the late seventies, trained in Local Indian Classical and later in Eastern Indian vocals.-->
She has toured North America, Europe, the Caribbean & India representing T&T as a Chutney Soca Ambassador. Dr. Kumar Mahabir’s recent magazine ''Portraits of Chutney Singers'', hailed her as the “Undisputed Chutney Queen”. She’s the most popular Indian female artist known for originality & has made a “dent” in the musical landscape within the past three decades. She started singing in the late seventies, trained in Local Indian Classical and later in Eastern Indian vocals.-->

==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramgoonai, Drupatee}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramgoonai, Drupatee}}
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago female singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Trinidad and Tobago women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Trinidad and Tobago singers]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Chutney musicians]]
[[Category:Chutney musicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
⚫
[[Category:People from Penal–Debe]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago Hindus]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago Hindus]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago people of Indian descent]]
⚫
[[Category:People from Penal-Debe Regional Corporation]]

Latest revision as of 21:24, 1 September 2024

Drupatee Ramgoonai (pronounced [drʊpəti raːməɡʊɳaːjə]; born 2 March 1958) is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian chutney and chutney soca musician. She was responsible for coining the term "chutney soca" in 1987 with her first album, entitled Chutney Soca, which included both English and Hindustani versions of the songs. She had her biggest hit the following year when her "(Roll Up the Tassa) Mr. Bissessar" was a Road March contender. She was instrumental in tassa and chutney soca finding its place in Carnival and her efforts later led to competitions such as Chutney Soca Monarch.

Biography

[edit]

Drupatee Ramgoonai was born on Sunrees Road in Charlo Village, Penal, Saint Patrick County, (present-day region of Penal-Debe) , Trinidad and Tobago, on 2 March 1958 into a Hindu Indian family. She started singing alongside her mother in the mandir at a young age, then went on to learn Indian classical singing from her trainer Ustad James Ramsewak, a veteran in the field.[1] She also gained exposure on Mastana Bahar, the Indian Cultural Pageant, winning the local song category in 1983 and 1984.[2]

Ramgoonai recorded her first crossover tune in 1987, entitled "Chutney Soca", and gained moderate success in the calypso tents. The term chutney soca was first coined by Drupatee Ramgoonai with that crossover tune "Chutney Soca" in 1987 and Ramgoonai is considered the mother of chutney soca.[3] The following year, she released "Mr Bissessar (Roll Up de Tassa)".[4] She has also released songs such as "Pepper", "Hotter Than a Chulha", "Careless Driver", "Motilal", "Tassawalley", and "Manzalina" and "Wuk Up D Ladki" with Machel Montano.[5]

She created history as being the first woman of Indian descent to sing calypso and soca[1][6] and has been one of the main targets of those who are scandalised by women and Indians singing chutney, chutney soca, calypso, and soca.[3][7][8][9][10]

In 2016 Drupatee signed an exclusive digital distribution agreement with Fox Fuse, making her entire music catalog available digitally worldwide for the first time.[11]

Collaborations

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Tejaswini Niranjana, Mobilizing India: Women, Music, and Migration between India and Trinidad, Durham, North Carolina: Duke University, 2000. ISBN 0-8223-3828-9, p. 98.
  2. ^ Niranjana, pp. 98–99.
  3. ^ a b Niranjana, p. 100.
  4. ^ Dave Thompson, Reggae and Caribbean Music, San Francisco: Backbeat, 2001, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, p. 72.
  5. ^ Niranjana, p. 167.
  6. ^ Niranjana, p. 150.
  7. ^ Niranjana, p. 86.
  8. ^ Niranjana, p. 113.
  9. ^ Ronald Michael Radano, Philip Vilas Bohlman, Music and the Racial Imagination, Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000, ISBN 0-226-70199-9, p. 333.
  10. ^ Shalini Puri, The Caribbean Postcolonial: Social Equality, Post-Nationalism, and Cultural Hybridity, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, ISBN 1-4039-6181-6, p. 196.
  11. ^ "CARIBBEAT: Chutney queen Drupatee branches out with exclusive digital deal", New York Daily News, 22 May 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Drupatee_Ramgoonai&oldid=1243507236"