Drupatee Ramgoonai (; born 2 March 1958) is a

Trinidadian and Tobagonian Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several smaller islets. The capital city is Port of Spai ...

chutney A chutney () is a spread typically associated with cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. Chutneys are made in a wide variety of forms, such as a tomato relish, a ground peanut garnish, yogurt, or curd, cucumber, spicy coconut, spicy onion ...

and

chutney soca In Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname, chutney soca music is a Crossover music, crossover style music style that blends Soca music, soca and Calypso music, calypso with chutney music—a genre rooted in Indo–Trinidadians and Tobagonians ...

musician. She was responsible for coining the term "chutney soca" in 1987 with her first album, entitled ''Chutney Soca'', which included both English and Hindustani versions of the songs. She had her biggest hit the following year when her "(Roll Up the

Tassa In Trinidad and Tobago, and other parts of the Caribbean, the term ''tassa'' refers to a drumming ensemble drawn from an amalgamation of various North Indian folk drumming traditions, most importantly dhol-tasha, a style that remains popular today ...

) Mr. Bissessar" was a

Road March The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during a Caribbean Carnival. Originating as part of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, the term has been applied to other Caribbea ...

contender. She was instrumental in

tassa In Trinidad and Tobago, and other parts of the Caribbean, the term ''tassa'' refers to a drumming ensemble drawn from an amalgamation of various North Indian folk drumming traditions, most importantly dhol-tasha, a style that remains popular today ...

and

finding its place in

Carnival Carnival (known as Shrovetide in certain localities) is a festive season that occurs at the close of the Christian pre-Lenten period, consisting of Quinquagesima or Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Carnival typi ...

and her efforts later led to competitions such as Chutney Soca Monarch.

Biography

Drupatee Ramgoonai was born on Sunrees Road in Charlo Village,

Penal Penal is a town in south Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. It lies south of San Fernando, Princes Town, and Debe, and north of Moruga, Morne Diablo and Siparia. Penal is noted as a heartland of Hindu and Indo-Trinidadian culture. History Up ...

, Saint Patrick County, (present-day region of Penal-Debe) ,

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago, officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, comprising the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with several List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago, smaller i ...

, on 2 March 1958 into a

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

Indian family. She started singing alongside her mother in the

mandir A Hindu temple, also known as Mandir, Devasthanam, Pura, or Kovil, is a sacred place where Hindus worship and show their devotion to deities through worship, sacrifice, and prayers. It is considered the house of the god to whom it is dedica ...

at a young age, then went on to learn Indian classical singing from her trainer Ustad James Ramsewak, a veteran in the field.Tejaswini Niranjana, ''Mobilizing India: Women, Music, and Migration between India and Trinidad'', Durham, North Carolina: Duke University, 2000.
p. 98
She also gained exposure on Mastana Bahar, the Indian Cultural Pageant, winning the local song category in 1983 and 1984. Ramgoonai recorded her first crossover tune in 1987, entitled "Chutney Soca", and gained moderate success in the calypso tents. The term

was first coined by Drupatee Ramgoonai with that crossover tune "Chutney Soca" in 1987 and Ramgoonai is considered the mother of chutney soca.Niranjana
p. 100
The following year, she released "Mr Bissessar (Roll Up de Tassa)". She has also released songs such as "Pepper", "Hotter Than a Chulha", "Careless Driver", "Motilal", "Tassawalley", and "Manzalina" and "Wuk Up D Ladki" with

Machel Montano Machel Montano (born 24 November 1974)Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Soca Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 300–301. is a Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidadian Soca music, soca recording artist and record producer. Known for his high energy, fast-pa ...

. She created history as being the first woman of Indian descent to sing calypso and soca and has been one of the main targets of those who are scandalised by women and Indians singing

, calypso, and soca. In 2016 Drupatee signed an exclusive digital distribution agreement with Fox Fuse, making her entire music catalog available digitally worldwide for the first time."CARIBBEAT: Chutney queen Drupatee branches out with exclusive digital deal"
''New York Daily News'', 22 May 2016.

Collaborations

*"Indian Gyal" – Drupatee and

*"Real Unity" – Drupatee and

*"Nani Wine Remix" – Drupatee and

Crazy Insanity, madness, lunacy, and craziness are behaviors caused by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity can manifest as violations of societal norms, including a person or persons becoming a danger to themselves or to other ...

*"Curry Tabanca" – Drupatee and Mighty Trini *"Roll Up De Tassa" – Drupatee, ft.

Alison Hinds Alison Amanda Hinds (born June 1 1970) is a British-born Bajan soca singer based in Barbados. She is often referred to as the Bajan " Queen of Soca" as a result of her impact on the genre. Biography Alison Hinds was born on 1 June 1970 in Lo ...

*"Be Mines Tonight" – Drupatee and Blazer *"Jep Sting Naina" – Drupatee, ft. Hunter (Lalchan Babwa), D'Hitman (Neeshan Prabhoo), Ravi Bissambhar, Anil Bheem, and Andy Singh * "Nazron Se Kehdo" - Drupatee and Satnarine Ragoo * "Mujko Thand" -Drupatee and D'Hitman (Neeshan Prabhoo)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramgoonai, Drupatee 20th-century Trinidad and Tobago women singers 20th-century Trinidad and Tobago singers 1945 births Chutney musicians Living people People from Penal–Debe Trinidad and Tobago Hindus Trinidad and Tobago people of Indian descent Trinidad and Tobago soca musicians Trinidad and Tobago calypsonians