SUNDAR POPO
Born Sunilal Popo
Bahora
November 4, 1943
to May 2, 2000
STALIN TO GIVE
POPO'S EULOGY
By Wayne Bowman
Trinidad Guardian
May 4, 2000
Page 2
Two days ago, Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste) was making preparations
to perform at a benefit concert for Sundar Popo. Now he will be performing at his funeral.
The
reigning calypso King of Kings was shocked yesterday to learn of Popo's death.
He
was making arrangements with Sat Maharaj, secretary general of the Sanatan
Dharma Maha Sabha, for the benefit concert to assist Popo's family with his
medical expenses.
"The
nation has lost yet another cultural icon it cannot afford," Stalin said
yesterday.
"We
have lost another jewel from the crown.
We
knew he was sick, but it still came as a shock. Sundar was a great, great, great man of music. It is not easy to talk about him right
now."
On
Tuesday evening Stalin and Maharaj met to plan the Indian Arrival Day Concert
in Popo's honour.
Stalin
and Popo, four-time Indian Cultural Pageant winner, were friends for over 30
years. In 1995 Stalin won the national
Calypso Monarch title with "Tribute To Sundar Popo."
"Just
yesterday we were planning a concert for Sundar. The dialysis was costing him $3,000 a day and he needed funds to
continue his treatment."
"We
have been friends for over 30 years. I
see him grow up and watch him in shows at the Metro with guys like Sonny
Mathews."
"Sundar
was a good man, easy-going and friendly.
I will miss the brother," Stalin said.
Maharaj
said he was first moved to pay tribute to Popo after a visit to India earlier
this year. He found Popo's music was
classic fare in India, but he received little credit fore his
contribution. Almost everyone knew the
classic song "Poulaurie Beena Chutney", which had been introduced to
them by popular Indian singing duo Kanchan and Babla.
"Imagine,
people in India knew 'Poulaurie Beena Chutney' and did not know Sundar
Popo," Maharaj said.
When
the idea of having a benefit concert for Sundar Popo on Indian Arrival Day came
up, Maharaj said one of the first people who came to his mind was Black Stalin.
"When we thought of having this benefit
concert, I got in contact with Stalin and told him of the plan."
"I
asked him how much he would charge to perform at the concert and he just looked
at me and said, 'For Sundar.
Nothing'."
MONKEY TOWN MOURNS
HERO
By Radhica Sookraj
Guardian South
Bureau
May 4, 2000
Page 2
Tears
flowed freely in Monkey Town, Barrackpore, yesterday, as residents mourned the
death of Sundar Popo, who died from heart failure on Tuesday evening.
As
one of Popo's greatest hits, "Your Mother's Love," played in the
house in commemoration of his death, Popo's 70-year-old aunt, Rookmin Bahoora,
who took care of him as a boy, cried uncontrollably.
Inside
the house a deya was already lit next to one of his framed portraits. "Look at how I used to take care of him
and he dead before me," Bahoora lamented.
The
old woman, who never had any children, recalled: "Me and me husband used
to go singing shows. That is how Sundar
start to sing." After he made his
first great hit, "Nani and Nana", in 1969, Bahoora, whom he
considered his mother, continued to stay at his home.
Popo's
own mother, Sophia Bahoora, died eight years ago. Relatives recalled that Popo worked at Caroni (1975) Ltd but
after his first hit in 1969 he devoted much of his time to his singing career.
With
the assistance of Moean Mohammed and Windsor Records he was able to produce
more than 15 records, which were marketed to the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom, Holland, Fiji and India.
The
most popular of these include "Sundar Fever", "Sweet Sweet
Guyana" (which was produced with Anand Yankeran), "Children Respect
Your Mother", "Heart Brake", and "Sundar's
Screwdriver".
Mohammed,
one of the pioneers of Indian culture, stated Sundar was well respected for the
positive vibes he encouraged in society.
As a result he was the recipient of several trophies.
In
1988, Sundar received a National Award for Excellence after he was designated
the top Indian vocalist for the year.
He
also received a "Caribbean Bacchanal" trophy in 1996 and the 1993
Sunshine Award for copping first place in Indian Soca.
Recently
Popo received another award from blind chutney singer Asha Kamachee in
commemoration of his 1978 anniversary, when he was named Local Song Champion.
In
1993, Popo received yet another award in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after he was
named King of Chutney there.
Yesterday,
as thousands mourned his passing, reigning champion of the Du Maurier
Soca/Chutney Competition Rooplal Girdharie said the country had indeed lost a
gem.
Girdharie
said the government should offer to hold an official funeral for the chutney
legend.
"This
is a great loss. He laid the foundation
for chutney music…I have always admired his work and I think the authorities
should give him some kind of official recognition," Girdharie said.
Two-time
chutney champion Ricki Jai also expressed similar sentiments.
"He
inspired everyone who came in contact with him," he said.
Another
chutney singer, Sonnyman, who shared a 30-year relationship with Popo, added he
would always remember Sundar for his sense of humour.
"I
will never forget we used to make plenty jokes on the plane when we go on tours
together," Sonnyman said.
Sundar
is survived by his son, Harripersad Sundar of Miami, Florida. Harripersad has already performed in several
shows in the United States with his father.
Sundar's
granddaughter, Chandra Sundar, is also a non-professional singer.
PRETTY BABY, GREAT
ARTISTE
Trinidad Guardian
May 4, 2000
Page 2
Sundar
Popo was born Sunilal Popo Bahora on November 4, 1943. His nickname, Hindi for "pretty
baby", eventually stuck as his stage name.
Broadcaster
Shamoon Mohammed of TBC's Sangeet 106 FM said yesterday Popo's death was
a great loss to not only Trinidad and Tobago but the world of East Indian
music.
Mohammed
said Popo won acceptance for local Indian singers on an international level.
"Sundar
Popo was a great artiste and a wonderful human being."
"I
liked his strong competitive spirit.
His mission was to prove that local artistes could excel on a
professional level internationally. And
he did it."
"He
was a very friendly person and sincere in everything he did. Although he was a living legend, he was very
down-to-earth."
"Sundar
Popo was a simple man who simply enjoyed his music," Mohammed said.
Mohammed
said his late uncle, Moean Mohammed, discovered Sundar Popo and gave him his
big break.
"Uncle
Moean took Sundar under his wing in the late sixties. Then at the end of 1970 they recorded 'Nani and Nana' with
Maestro Harry Mohammed."
"The
song was first played on TBC Radio Trinidad by Uncle Moean and became an
instant hit with all the ethnic groups."
"Sundar
was one of the first contestants of Mastana Bahar and he sailed through and
instantly became a national star. He
would go on to win the Indian Cultural Pageant four times."
"In
fact, the Local Song Competition was established because of Sundar. His music is known around the world, from
Guyana to Suriname, Fiji, Mauritius, India, Europe and Africa," Mohammed
said.
'HE WAS IN HIGH
SPIRITS'
By Radhica Sookraj
Guardian South
Bureau
May 4, 2000
Page 2
Jaiknath
Bahora, son of Sundar Popo, said yesterday his father died while undergoing
dialysis treatment at the office of a private doctor in San Fernando.
Popo,
hailed as Trinidad and Tobago's Chutney King, died of heart failure on Tuesday
evening. He was 57. In an interview yesterday at Popo's home in
Monkey Town, Barrackpore, Bahora said his father fell seriously ill about two
years ago.
He
was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital in the early stages of his
illness, but was unable to get the necessary treatment due to a lack of equipment.
"They
did not have the equipment there, so we had to take him to a private
doctor," Bahora said.
Currently
the hospital has four dialysis machines and a waiting list of 13 persons.
The
veteran chutney singer was taken to the San Fernando Kidney Centre and attended
to by Dr. Ram Mahabir, a specialist in Internal Medicine and Diseases of the
Kidney. Prior to his death at the
centre, Popo was in high spirits.
"He looked strong, he had just returned from New York on Sunday and
he was in high spirits," Bahora said.
The
singer recently had a successful eye operation at Queen's Hospital in New York.
His
sight was restored and the family was working on treatment for his kidneys,
which were damaged by the diabetes militus.
After he returned to Trinidad, Popo had to undergo treatment every other
day.
Just
around 6 p.m., while undergoing the dialysis treatment, Popo began complaining
of chest pains.
"He
was sweating and he tell the doctor that his heart was hurting him," said
a tearful Bahora.