Dealing with the circumstances – John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul

Soca and calypso singer John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul was born at William Street, Kitty, Georgtown and grew up at No 63 Village, Corentyne. Slingshot lived on his own in a beach house at No. 63 Beach, from age 13, with no assistance from his family. His stepmother, Etwaria Masidas, had put him out of the family home to fend for himself. Rising above such adversity, he was determined to succeed and make something good out of life for himself.

“Playing music, being in bands and entertaining were never my life’s ambition. Circumstances forced me into adapting to such. After being put out of the family house by the stepmother, I lived on my own in a beach house at No. 63 Beach from age 13, with no assistance from family. I was self-taught the rudiments of guitar playing and used that instrument to earn money to sustain myself, although I cannot read and write music,” he disclosed in an email interview with Guyana Sunday Times Magazine.

His nickname “sling-shot” was the one that stuck because, as a teenager he was often seen with a slingshot in his pocket. “Living on my own as a teenager and fending for myself, I would shoot birds at the beach to eat. I was good at it, I must admit. The name “Slingshot” was adopted when I went “solo” after playing with numerous bands in U.S.A,” he said.

Slingshot migrated to the United States in early 1970 and honed his entertaining skills in New York City’s Greenwich Village coffee houses, subways, and street corners. His resilience, confidence and charisma are reflected in the witty songs of his Guyanese heritage. As a soldier stationed in Germany in the late 70s, Slingshot sharpened his song-writing skills. They are deeply rooted in his music and lyrics, which are insightful, satirical at times, romantic, wonderfully humorous, and spiced with Caribbean nostalgia.

During the early 80s, Slingshot and his band, Tropical Waves, enjoyed immense popularity among West Indian

party-goers in New York. They were the opening act at Madison Square Garden for Jamaican pioneering dancehall reggae artiste “Yellowman”, along with Trinidad’s “Mighty Sparrow” and “Calypso Rose”. In the mid-80s, with “Signs of the Zodiacs”, a Brooklyn-based 13-piece brass band, Slingshot blossomed into a versatile, dynamic and innovative entertainer. He still credits that group with the disciplined brass arrangement that can be heard in his musical compositions.

Slingshot entered Guyana’s Mashramani 2004 Road March competition for the first time, on February 23, 2004, with his band titled: ‘Wake Up, My Guyana’ with Slingshot. It won the raves and hearts of everyone, and placed first in the Semi-Costumed Big Band Category.

From November 22 to 29, 2004, Slingshot got his fellow Guyanese artistes together and recorded a song (You’re Not Alone), which he and his co-lyricist Ingrid wrote for the disadvantaged children of Guyana, especially those abandoned, orphaned, and the unfortunate ones diagnosed with the AIDS/HIV virus.

Slingshot was among those selected by The Guyana Cultural Association Folk Festival 2005 Awards Committee for its Wordsworth McAndrew Award. The criterion for such a prestigious award is based on several attributes including originality, scope, impact/influence, integration, pioneering spirit, challenges and achievements. The selected finalists represent exemplary models in their arts related accomplishments, and their outstanding contribution to Guyana’s cultural life.

“During my Mash 2007 ‘Welcome to Guyana’ portrayal, I fell off my dray cart float. This happened on Irving and Almond Streets, when Neaz Subhan and his TV crew were interviewing me. I was squatting at the back of my dray-cart when the crowd rushed up to shake my hands. The horse got scared and railed-up causing me to fall flat on my derriere, causing me to sustain three broken bones in my lower back and two crushed vertebrae as my upper body crushed down on the lower,” he recalled.

After much medical examinations, it took quite awhile before he could actually move about. But, given the severity of the injury, he is blessed that he was not banished to a lifetime in a wheelchair.

Since his accident during Mash 2007, he has been focusing on completing his manuscript titled ‘Slingshot: from No. 63 Beach to Madison Square Garden’.

Incidentally, there are two other books in the making. “I have already started the ‘pre-sequel’ and sequel of life “before” No. 63 Beach, and “after” Madison Square Garden. The trilogy will make for interesting reading as I cover a variety of topics to include social, economic and political pre- and post- independent Guiana, as well as personal in-depth thoughts as seen through my eyes.”

He has also been composing new music that will be released in 2011. The scope of the compositions hopefully will bring about a whole new landscape to his musical and entertaining endeavours. “I am also devoting much time to putting together a slew of new music videos I have been planning to do since 2004, but never had the time given the hectic schedules I had entertaining all over. Again, these will be released in 2011.”

The resilient singer is also on the planning committee with The Dome Group, which is contemplating bringing to Guyana in 2012 their very first ever international Jazz Festival: Guyana Jazz Festival 2012.

In addition to these economic goals, a great amount of the Guyana Jazz Festival 2012 proceeds will provide funding to non governmental organizations (NGO’s) to support their efforts at HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and support for orphanages and children in need. (Taken from Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)