Terry Vivekanand Gajraj is a Guyanese chutney and chutney-soca artist.
Career Born in the village of Fyrish, near the Corentyne River, in Guyana, he is the eldest of three children and son of a school teacher. Gajraj is a Hindu of Indian descent. Gajraj began performing at the age of 5 with the Dil Bahar Orchestra.Thompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, , pp. 109–111Gildarie, Leonard (2013) "Singing Ambassador Terry ‘Guyana Baboo’ Gajraj is a ‘Special Person’", Kaieteur News, 17 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2016Post, Jennifer C. (ed.) (2005) Ethnomusicology: A Contemporary Reader, Routledge, , p. 289 He learned to play the harmonium and drums, and went on to work with the Star Rhythm Combo, the Original Pioneers, and the Melody Makers, before working as a teacher in his 20s at a high school in Georgetown.
In the late 1980s, inspired by Sundar Popo and the increasing popularity of chutney, he decided to pursue a career in music, and he relocated to New York.Andrews, Erline (2006) "Terry Gajraj: “I miss Guyana so much”", Caribbean Beat, Issue 82 (November/December 2006). Retrieved 26 April 2016 After initially working as part of local bands, he launched a solo career in 1990, releasing the album Soca Lambada, which brought him immediate success. He had a local hit in 1992 with "Tun Tun Dance", and followed it with his third album, Guyana Baboo & Pack Up: New York, split with David Ramoutar, which was also a success, 'Guyana Baboo' being synonymous with Gajraj ever since.
His popularity spread to Trinidad and Tobago, where he performed at the Trinidad Spektakula festival and appeared on national television. In 1995 he became the first Guyanese artist to perform at the T&T carnival. He's also the first singer from the Caribbean to perform at India's Bollywood Music Awards.
Between 1990 and 2000 he release a total of 14 albums.
In 2009 he collaborated with Dheeraj Gayaram on the stage show West Indian Dreams.Alleyne, Oluatoyin (2009) "Dheeraj eyes Broadway", Stabroek News, 17 October 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2016
In 2015 he was nominated in the 'Male Soca Chutney Artiste of the Year' category at the International Soca & Chutney Awards."Nominees for International Soca & Chutney Awards announced", Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, 21 August 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016
Discography Soca Lambada (1990), Mohabir Caribana '92 (1992), Mohabir Guyana Baboo & Pack Up: New York (1993), Mohabir - with David Ramoutar Tun Tun Dance/Guyana Baboo 2 (1994) - with Apache Waria Phagwah Songs (1994), Mohabir Roti & Dall (1995), Mohabir Baboo Bruk Dem Up (1996), Mohabir Funky Chatni (1996), Mohabir Summer Jam (1997), Mohabir Sweet Love Songs (1998), Mohabir Boom (1998), Mohabir Christmas Dancemix (1998), RP Sweet Love Songs vol. 2 (1999), Mohabir Sweet Love Songs, vol. 3 (2000), Mohabir Voice of Guyana, Mohabir Berbice River,
Compilations X (2000), Mohabir
See also Guyanese Americans Indians in the New York City metropolitan area List of Indo-Guyanese people Indo-Caribbean Americans
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