Rikki Jai (born Samraj Jaimungal; ) is an Indo-Trinidadian

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 style music style that blends soca and calypso with chutney music—a genre rooted in Indo-Trinidadian culture.It incorporates English, Hindustani, and Hinglis ...

musician.

Career

Jai's 1988 debut single ''Sumintra'' told the tale of an Indo-Trinidadian woman from

Debe Debe (or Débé) is a town in south Trinidad located in the region of Penal–Debe. Debe has grown from a small settlement into a key transit point which as has merged to some extent with Penal. A denomination high school was established by the ...

who informed her

boyfriend A boyfriend is a man who is a friend or acquaintance to the speaker, often specifying a regular male companion with whom a person is platonically, romantically or sexually involved. A boyfriend can also be called an admirer, beau, suito ...

of her preference for

soca Soca or SOCA may refer to: Government * Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), a former public body of the United Kingdom * Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA), a South African government unit established to combat gender-based violence ...

over the music of Indian artist

Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar (; born Hema Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. He ...

. Jai returned the following year with ''Pumping'', then ''Bolo'' and ''Show Me Yuh Motion''. His 1993 song ''Wine on a Bumsee'' signalled Jai's exit from the soca world, opting for the chutney soca arena, in which he continues to perform. Jai later released ''Chutney Vibrations'', a compilation of his soca chutney songs. His biggest chutney soca hit is ''Mor Tor'' featuring soca star

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 ...

. While ''Barman'' and ''Scorpion Sting Me'' & ''Leh We Fete'' are also chutney soca hits of his. In 2011, he won his 6th Chutney Soca Monarch title, with the song ''White Oak and Water,'' walking away with TT$2 million in prize money. Jai was later crowned for the 7th said time after teaming up with Ravi B. In 2001, he tied for first place (with

Bunji Garlin Ian Antonio Alvarez (born July 14, 1978), better known by his stage name Bunji Garlin, is a Trinidadian ragga and soca artist. He is also affectionately known as the Viking of Soca. His spouse is Fay-Ann Lyons. Early life Bunji was born on Jul ...

) for the "Young King" title. Jai is also a record breaking nine time Chutney Soca Monarch winner.

Accolades

In 2012 he was bestowed with a Hummingbird Medal Gold, a national award of Trinidad and Tobago. On Tuesday 7, October 2023, Jai acquired a honorary doctorate in fine arts from the

University of Trinidad and Tobago The University of Trinidad and Tobago, also known as UTT, is a state owned university in Trinidad and Tobago established in 2004. Its main campus, currently under construction, will be located at Wallerfield in Trinidad. Presently, its campuses ...

Personal life

Jai is the owner of Sheriff Street Restaurant and Lounge in

Queens, New York Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

. Married to wife Shelly, he's also the father of Aashish and Vaashish, their two sons.

References

20th-century Trinidad and Tobago male singers 20th-century Trinidad and Tobago singers Chutney musicians Trinidad and Tobago people of Indian descent Living people Year of birth missing (living people) People from San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago 21st-century Trinidad and Tobago male singers 21st-century Trinidad and Tobago singers {{caribbean-singer-stub