NEVIS/PHILIPSBURG--Persistence and dedication paid off in an artistic moment of history when the Nevis Culturama Caribbean King, St. Maarten's calypsonian Andrew “His Majesty Baker Jr.” Richardson, won the crown at the Caribbean Calypso competition in Nevis on August 2.
After 2½ decades participating in shows, Baker Jr finally captured the crown during the special evening. The veteran singer did not give up, he kept the passion by writing for other calypsonians, both locally and abroad. Baker Jr. also facilitated the junior calypso camp in Rain Bow City Anguilla for five years and still going strong.
Baker Jr. is said to be a selfless calypsonian who embraces the calypso art form with heart and soul and does it for the love of calypso. Year after year, regardless of the judges’ decision, King Baker Jr. pressed on and, with faith and hope, continued his journey to winning one day.
After losing his wife to breast cancer in 2014, he commissioned Gregory Ballantine to write this great rendition, as he was experiencing the plight of being in a vulnerable state, and sang the song “The Curse of Cancer” in St. Maarten for the 2015 calypso competition. He placed second runner-up, but did not capture the crown.
King Baker Jr. continued to spread the message of his song while soothing the hearts and souls of those who have lost their loved ones to cancer.
While preparing to compete in the Nevis King of Kings competition, he had a choice between two songs and consulted his sister Marie Richardson for her advice as to which song he should sing. She encouraged him to sing “The Curse of Cancer” because of his experience with the disease and the raw emotions that he possesses while singing the song.
She told him he would connect more with the audience and they would be able to relate to the pain and passion he is portraying because everyone knows someone who lost their battle with the awful disease. He took his sister’s advice and sang the song with such passion and conviction that he was able to build an instant chemistry with his audience, causing him to be the centre of attention and the show.
After he was announced the winner, Baker Jr. dedicated his crown to his late wife Fannilia Celia Richardson. Only then were many made aware that he was a victim of losing his wife to the curse of cancer. After the show the audience became even more touched and intrigued by his passion while giving him their sympathy, words of encouragement and their approval.
The people of Nevis embraced him with lots of love and saw his talent; something he said he yet has to receive in his homeland.
