The Mighty Grynner, given name Leo MacDonald Blenman, will be celebrated by his peers and adoring fans today when the Spring Garden Highway will be renamed after him.
There will be video presentations, performances from seasoned and upcoming entertainers, the Red Boyz Band, Royal Barbados Police Force Band and the St Leonard’s Boys’ Choir.
It will be “a tribute to a gentleman who has carried the flag for Barbadian calypso on his back for a number of years”, said Minister of Culture John King.
“I remember in the early 1980s and late 1970s when there were not a lot of people recording music, you could depend on Grynner to provide you with that infectious music that everybody wanted to dance to.”
It was in 1968 that Grynner began his competitive journey in the kaiso arena, placing third to Gabby and Romeo in the Barbados Independence Show, which was held at the YMCA.
His success continued in 1983 when he won his first Road March title with Mr T about former Prime Minister Tom Adams, who opened the highway on May 26, 1983.
The trend continued with Stinging Bees (1984), More Grynner (1985), Wait For Me (1988), Leggo I Hand (1989), Get Out De Way (1990) and Grind Dem (1998).
He is the only calypsonian with two hat-tricks in the road march competition.
The ceremony starts at 4:30 p.m. (NS)
