Jose Juan recalls his calypso odyssey

In detailing his calypso odyssey, Vincentian calypsonian Jose Juan says his love for the art form began during his formative years.

“I then began my calypso journey in 1977, playing pan for Starlift Steel Orchestra,” Jose Juan, a member of the Brooklyn-based Dynamite Calypso Tent, the lone Vincentian calypso tent in North America, told Caribbean Life, referring to the perennial panorama champions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“During my time playing pan, I developed a relationship with the well-known Tannie Peters, who then piqued my interest in performing calypso,” added Jose Juan, whose real name is Ramon Diaz. “We had so many conversations about calypso history and origin, and our shared love and admiration for the Mighty Sparrow.”

He said Peters wrote his first calypso, “Tomorrow”, for performance in the Calypso Classroom tent, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, led by the late Professor.

“The song had an impact in the competition but did not make it to the Big Yard,” said Jose Juan, stating that his journey in the calypso world had “ups and downs.”

“I fondly remember my first years with the Calypso Classroom and the impact that I had,” he added. “I was very excited and looked forward to what the next years would offer me.

“However, I was informed that I needed to audition to perform for the next year, and I was disappointed that they required me to do so again,” Jose Juan continued. “It was a difficult decision, but I refused and went on to join another tent.”

During the next few years, Jose Juan said he sang with the Calypso Theater, led by Calypsonian Vibrating Scates “and surrounded by other great artists, including Exposer, Duster, Toiler, and others too numerous to mention.

“They were some of the great experiences that helped and shaped my calypso development,” he said.

Afterwards, Jose Juan said he “joined forces” with Reality, Black Messager, De Dale and Pilling Pollard in starting a new calypso tent, Renegade.

Jose Juan credited the late, popular Vincentian radio broadcaster and calypso lover Ferrand “Randy D” Dopwell in changing his stage name.

“I was performing under the name Juan Jose, and he told me this name doesn’t sound quite right,” Jose Juan said. “He then introduced me that night as ‘Jose Juan’; and, to my great surprise, the name stuck. And I was even nicknamed the Chinese Calypsonian.”

On migrating to New York in 1990, he said his involvement in singing calypso “only deepened,” helping to form the Dynamite Calypso Tent.

Jose Juan said he also participated in Baltimore and Miami calypso competitions.

He said his varied calypso accomplishments include: Several finals in Sesame Flyers’ Brooklyn competitions; 3rd place in the 2018 New Song Competition (Vincy Mas); Semifinal in the 2019 Ragga Soca (Vincy Mas); Final in 2023 Ragga Soca (Vincy Mas); and Semifinal in the 2023 Calypso Monarch (Vincy Mas).

But Jose Juan said his most memorable accomplishments were when he finally made his Big Yard appearance in 2019 Ragga Soca, performing “Throw It All Away,” and made it to the Ragga Soca finals with “Until Ah Wet” and semifinals in the 2023 Calypso Monarch.

In addition, Jose Juan said he has been “fortunate and quite proud” of several recordings and hits he’s made over the years, including: “I Miss You,” “International Airport,” “Bat But Don’t Score,” “Mr. Pan Man,” “Mas Long Ago,” and “Step Up.”

Besides Peters, he complimented Megail Rayes, Janet Allen, Adrian Bailey and Cherry Ince – writers, arrangers and producers – for helping to enhance his calypso career.

“With my music, I am always striving to maintain the highest quality standards, regardless of whether I make it to the Big Yard or not,” he said. “This is my personal motto.

“I continue to be a member (of) and perform with the Dynamite Calypso Tent,” he added. “Today, I am still motivated and looking to one day be at the top of this art form.”