A story of determination!

This year was the lucky charm that brought a successful result in this story of determination, thirty-two years in the making.  At least that is how we would describe the win in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, August 2nd for Calypsonian William Waithe stage name Classic of De Big Show.

After thirty-two consecutive years of making his Kaiso contribution in the Pic-O-De-Crop competition, Classic nabbed that elusive title and was named the 2015 MQI Pic-O-De-Crop Calypso Monarch. In addition to the title he walked away with a trophy and cheque for $10500 and a sweepstake of prizes valued at over $103,000 dollars which included a voucher for Clothing from Henrietta’s Closet; a trip for two to New York aboard JetBlue Airways, the US air carrier for the Barbados Crop Over Festival; travel insurance for 1 year covering up to 4 trips within that year from Co-operator’s General Insurance; a five-night Staycation for two including breakfast at Divi Southwinds; one year’s subscription to the Nation Newspaper and Better Health Magazine; a course of study for a Diploma in Management Studies compliments BIMAP; a Raymond Weil Watch from the Caribbean Exclusive His and Hers Set compliments Colombian Emeralds International; and of course the coveted car, a Mazda 3 compliments MQI, with full comprehensive insurance for one year from Bryden’s Insurance.

In speaking about his win, Classic credited his fans and his love for the art form as his motivation for competing each year.  At some point it became more about the music than it did the title, he remarked.  Deep down he always believed that one day, his music would have its own voice that would speak to those that mattered the way it did to him and he would be rewarded.  Going with this theory his songs ‘In Bed Together’ and ‘Something Fishy’ seems to have done just that earning him 98 points to the win.

The way history unfolded this year, one day we might just see this familiar face on a Soca Royale stage, since one of his goals for the future is to test his skills in the Sweet Soca competition.

It was a tight race at the top for the first three positions, with two from All Stars and another two from Headliners in the top five.  Classic was followed closely by Donella Weekes-Oliver stage name Donella of the All Stars tent with 94 points, in third place was Colin Spencer of the Headliners tent with 92 points, fourth place went to Jude Clarke ‘Hee Haw’ also of the All Stars tent and in fifth place was Adrian Clarke of the Headliners tent with 68 points.