The Barbados-American Charitable Organization of New Jersey, Inc. (BACONJ) selected veteran entertainer, Richard N. Stoute, BSS, GCM to receive the 2010 Barbadian of Distinction Award for Entertainment.
Stoute travelled to the United States to accept the high honour at the organizations 44th anniversary dinner and dance on November 20, last year.
“Richard is being honoured tonight for his selflessness, dedication, commitment and service to the community,” said long-time friend and fellow musician Ricardo Durant. Surrounded by several hundred fans, friends and family members, Stoute was recognized as a leader and a true example of BACONJ’s motto Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve.
Richard “Dick” Stoute has been a champion of Barbadian entertainment for over 34 years. One of Barbados leading singers, Stoute wrote his name into the annals of entertainment history in Barbados when he founded the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition.
Richard started to make a name as an entertainer at an early age. He placed third in the 1961 local calypso competition and ten years later became the first and only Caribbean Soul King when he won a competition that was staged in the United States Virgin Islands.
He was also founder member of the Opels, and has sung with the Blue Rhythm Combo. Smooth and skillful when he his performing on- stage, Stoute has recorded many hit singles during his career. These hits include Goodbye Now My Bajan Girl, What’s The Use Pretty Blues Eyes, Best Part Of My Day, Vehicle and The Tearful Pity The Fool. He also recorded an album titled You Turn Me On To Love.
The annual Crop-Over Festival and the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition are the only two competitions in Barbados’s history that have spanned more than 34 years. Teen Talent has produced most of Barbados’ leading young entertainers. It was started in 1977 by Stoute when he was the entertainment manager at the Holiday Inn Hotel. There were five contestants and a handful of patrons.
John King, a young St. Lucian living in Barbados, created history when he won that first competition. Also competing that year were Spice, Tamara Marshall, Carol George, and the winners, The Melody Makers. Throughout the years, the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition has changed venues, from Yoruba Yard on Fontabelle, The George Street Auditorium and the Queen’s Park Steel Shed to Solidarity House and the Black Rock Cultural Centre.
Despite its many trials over the year, the competition has forged on to play a key role in the development of entertainment in Barbados. It is the only competition of its kind in the entire Caribbean, and it has now come of age.
