The Beginning
Soca and calypso singer John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul was born at William Street, Kitty, Georgtown and grew up at No 63 Village, Corentyne. Slingshot lived on his own in a beach house at No. 63 Beach, from age 13, with no assistance from his family. His stepmother, Etwaria Masidas, had put him out of the family home to fend for himself. Rising above such adversity, he was determined to succeed and make something good out of life for himself.
“Playing music, being in bands and entertaining were never my life’s ambition. Circumstances forced me into adapting to such. After being put out of the family house by the stepmother, I lived on my own in a beach house at No. 63 Beach from age 13, with no assistance from family. I was self-taught the rudiments of guitar playing and used that instrument to earn money to sustain myself, although I cannot read and write music,” he disclosed in an email interview with Guyana Sunday Times Magazine.
His nickname “sling-shot” was the one that stuck because, as a teenager he was often seen with a slingshot in his pocket. “Living on my own as a teenager and fending for myself, I would shoot birds at the beach to eat. I was good at it, I must admit. The name “Slingshot” was adopted when I went “solo” after playing with numerous bands in U.S.A,” he said.
The USA Chapter
Slingshot migrated to the United States in early 1970 and honed his entertaining skills in New York City’s Greenwich Village coffee houses, subways, and street corners. His resilience, confidence and charisma are reflected in the witty songs of his Guyanese heritage. As a soldier stationed in Germany in the late 70s, Slingshot sharpened his song-writing skills. They are deeply rooted in his music and lyrics, which are insightful, satirical at times, romantic, wonderfully humorous, and spiced with Caribbean nostalgia.
Slingshot (far left seated) with band BQE members in 1986
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 heard in his musical compositions.
Giving Back
Miss Guyana-World show at Pegasus Hotel – 2010
Slingshot entered Guyana’s Mashramani 2004 Road March competition for the first time, on February 23, 2004, with his band titled: ‘Wake Up, My Guyana’ with Slingshot. It won the raves and 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 his co-lyricist Ingrid wrote for the disadvantaged children of Guyana, especially those abandoned, orphaned, and the unfortunate ones diagnosed with the AIDS/HIV virus.
The Accident
“During my Mash 2007 ‘Welcome to Guyana’ portrayal, I fell off my dray cart float. This happened on Irving and Almond Streets, when Neaz Subhan and his TV crew were interviewing me. I was squatting at the back of my dray-cart when the crowd rushed up to shake my hands. The horse got scared and railed-up causing me to fall flat on my derriere, causing me to sustain three broken bones in my lower back and two crushed vertebrae as my upper body crushed down on the lower,” he recalled.
After much medical examinations, it took quite awhile before he could actually move about. But, given the severity of the injury, he is blessed that he was not banished to a lifetime in a wheelchair.
Books
Since his accident during Mash 2007, he has been focusing on completing his manuscript titled ‘Slingshot: from No. 63 Beach to Madison Square Garden’.
Incidentally, there are two other books in the making. “I have already started the ‘pre-sequel’ and sequel of life “before” No. 63 Beach, and “after” Madison Square Garden. The trilogy will make for interesting reading as I cover a variety of topics to include social, economic and political pre- and post- independent Guiana, as well as personal in-depth thoughts as seen through my eyes.”
His Achievements
The Pirate – John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul
Slingshot and his wife Ingrid have written, composed, and arranged over 500 songs, and recorded several CDs. Their compositions cover all genres of music to include Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Waltz, R&B, Chutney, and something they call “Chulhaa”.
Slingshot and his wife Ingrid
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 doing so.
In November 2008, Slingshot was presented with Guyana’s Accolade Award for his Soca composition, “Pirates”, during the country’s first nationally recognized 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 among those selected by The Guyana Cultural Association Folk Festival 2005 Awards Committee for its Wordsworth McAndrew Award. The criterion for such a prestigious award is based on several attributes including originality, scope, impact/influence, integration, pioneering spirit, challenges and achievements. The selected finalists represent exemplary models in their arts related accomplishments, and their outstanding contribution to Guyana’s cultural life.
Slingshot was unanimously judged the Miami 2005 Soca Monarch after edging out a predominantly Trinidadian line-up. He became the only non-Trinidadian, and the first ever Guyanese, to win the Miami Soca crown. He also placed third in the 2005 Miami Calypso Monarch competition.
Slingshot continues to inspire and bring joy to the lives of the people that come in contact with him. We at ThingsGuyana would like to salute this son of our soil.
The Music
Christmas In Guyana
Mashing in Mahaicony
The Golden Locket
(Article taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine & parts from the Guyana Chronicle)
See a wonderful piece from Dmitri Allicock: https://ohbeautifulguyana.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/christmas-is-family-by-dmitri-allicock.pdf
