THIS YEAR’S MQI/98.1 The One Soca Royale is shaping up to be an historic event in more ways than one.
Not only will the Sweet Soca element be held after dark for the first time, but for the first time the Party Monarch defending champ will not participate.
The National Cultural Foundation stated that Omar Gorg Sobers’ management gave notice of his non-participation on July 26 due to “medical reasons”. Reserve Kirk Brown will take Gorg’s place.
The SUNDAY SUN checked sources in the entertainment field, and none of them could think of any other instance since the Party Monarch started in 1995 that a monarch did not defend; whether it was at the Calypso Bowl on East Coast Road, Farley Hill, St Peter or its current home at Bushy Park, St Philip.
One of those sources was Adrian “Boo” Husbands, who was leader of the band from 1995 to 2008.
The competition was moved to Farley Hill because of environmental concerns on the East Coast the following year.
Boo said that during his tenure as band leader the reserve was accorded the same rehearsal time as the competitors so that they would be prepared to step in. (YB)
