Trinidadian-born Teaneck, NJ-based Gilman “Gil” Theophilus Figaro, Sr., songwriter, scriptwriter and producer, or “Figgie” as he’s known as by his Caribbean followers, is synonymous with “high quality productions.” He’s the founder and chairman of the Sunshine Awards.
Figaro has discovered his place among the many veteran Caribbean promoters – making his contribution to Caribbean tradition by artwork, dance, music and poetry – as he continues to boost the extent of excellence with every of his thrilling and entertaining productions.
Born of poor mother and father (poor materially however wealthy with hope and values) and raised in San Fernando in South Trinidad, Figaro instructed Caribbean Life on Friday that his earliest musical influences got here from his calypsonian uncle, Daniel Emmanuel Jardine Gilchrist (Younger Killer/Uncle Fat).
At 8, Figaro mentioned he was launched by his uncle to the world of calypso.
He mentioned his uncle would usually take him to the calypso tents when he carried out with different tremendous stars such because the Mighty Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, Lord Christo and Mighty Bomber.
He mentioned Uncle Fat later taught him the artwork of songwriting and that of making melodies.
As a scholar in highschool, St. Benedict’s Faculty, La Romain, San Fernando, Figaro mentioned he joined the varsity’s army band as a trombone participant. He additionally sang within the choir, performed soccer and cricket, and was president of the Pupil Authorities.
Figaro mentioned he wrote his first music, “Individuals”, at 15, and produced his highschool’s first carnival and calypso present.
Two years after graduating from highschool, Figaro mentioned he migrated to the USA to pursue a university diploma in enterprise at St. Francis Faculty in Brooklyn.
He went on to finish an MBA at Lengthy Island College, whereas working many roles, to pay for his schooling, together with cab driving within the 5 boroughs of New York.
In 1985, Figaro mentioned he based the nonprofit, Calypso for Africa, Inc., “to musically reply the decision from his brothers and sisters in drought-stricken Ethiopia.
He mentioned he co-authored and produced the hit observe, “Now could be the Time,” the proceeds of which had been donated to Ethiopia by the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF).
“This observe included 72 calypsonians spanning 4 generations – from the late Roaring Lion, Lord Pretender and the late Lord Kitchener to Machel Montano and Natasha Wilson – from the Caribbean,” mentioned Figaro, stating that the mission was launched on the United Nations in 1987 with the legendary Roberta Flack because the co-host.
He mentioned his dedication to boost the integrity and international consciousness of Caribbean artwork types has by no means waned, founding and producing, in 1989, the SUNSHINE Awards™ “to pay tribute to the creators, performers and promoters of Caribbean artwork, dance, music and poetry.”
“A particular characteristic of this system is the perpetuation of the Sunshine Awards™ Corridor of Fame, additionally established in that 12 months,” he mentioned.
In 1991, Figaro mentioned the Sunshine Awards acquired the endorsement of the Nationwide Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the group liable for the GRAMMY Awards.
Figaro mentioned he’s “assured that there will probably be, within the close to future, the institution of a class for calypso and metal band music on the GRAMMY Awards, seeing the Sunshine Awards as conduit to reaching that purpose.”
In reality, through the years, Figaro mentioned the Sunshine Awards Program has expanded in scope and breath with a worldwide view to incorporate Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, South America and United States.
As somebody who has all the time positioned a terrific emphasis on schooling, Figaro, in 1998, established the Sunshine Awards™ Pupil Recognition Program.
“This program yearly acknowledges and applauds the scholastic achievements of the highest female and male college students from a particular Caribbean island,” he mentioned.
“The scholars are dropped at New York to be the presenters of the ‘Greatest Recording for Youngsters’ class on the Sunshine Awards™ and are taken on instructional and cultural excursions throughout their weeklong keep within the metropolis,” he added.
In 1994, the United Nations chosen the theme music for the Sunshine Awards™ “Sunshine”, penned by Figaro, GRAMMY Award recipient, William Salter, and Joe Brown because the commemorative theme for the “Caribbean Competition” in Torino, Italy.
Figaro mentioned he co-produced, with Joe Brown – Natasha Wilson performing “Sunshine” – for this nostalgic CD, launched in Europe that very same 12 months.
In the summertime of 1995, Figaro mentioned he launched one other CD with the title observe paying tribute to his mom.
He mentioned “My Mom’s Arms” was categorized by many Caribbean radio stations as essentially the most requested observe in 1995/1996.
In 1996, Figaro mentioned he documented one other chapter within the historical past books of Caribbean music, writing the script, and producing and co-hosting the primary Annual Indo-Caribbean Music Awards in Port-of-Spain, the Trinidad capital, for Jamaica Me Loopy (JMC) Data. He mentioned the theme was “Reflections.”
Figaro mentioned his “top quality productions and scripts” persuaded Brooklyn Heart for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn Faculty, in April 1998, to contract him to jot down the script and produce its first Annual Steelband Competition, “The Delight of the Caribbean,” which featured well-known pannists Andy Narell and Robert Greenwich.
Figaro mentioned “the flawless execution {and professional} supply of this sold-out occasion” secured him the invitation to provide 4 extra exhibits for his or her 1998/1999 season.
He mentioned he proceeded to provide and direct a night of Caribbean comedy, “Snort Until You Stomach Bust” and the Heart’s first “Christmas within the Caribbean” program.
“Each exhibits had been an enormous success, ensuing within the manufacturing of ‘Snort Until You Stomach Bust, Half 2,’ and widespread demand for a repeat of ‘Christmas within the Caribbean’ in December 2000,” Figaro mentioned.
In 1998, Figaro mentioned his “concern and compassion for humanity and the much less lucky” compelled him to just accept an invite from Air Jamaica Restricted to “arrange and head a musical mission for the individuals of Montserrat, who misplaced households, houses and jobs on account of a sequence of volcanic eruptions on their island.”
He mentioned he as soon as once more received along with songwriter, Joe Brown, and co-authored the “Music for Montserrat.”
“The end result was the ‘Household in Motion for Montserrat Mission,’ which introduced collectively an ensemble of 119 prime performing artists representing your entire Caribbean area,” Figaro mentioned.
He mentioned world-renowned performers – such because the Mighty Sparrow; Rita Marley; Carlene Davis; Chalkdust; David Rudder; Arrow; Junior Tucker; keyboard participant and arranger Frankie McIntosh; Platinum and Gold saxophonist Charles Dougherty; and Miguel Bassail from Puerto Rico – had been among the many artists who recorded the music for distribution on CD, cassette and video.
Figaro mentioned he was invited to attend the United Nations Worldwide Day for Catastrophe Prevention and Discount Convention in Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 14, 1998, the place he launched the “Household in Motion for Montserrat Mission,” and screened the video for the contributors within the viewers.
The “Music for Montserrat” is at present into consideration by the Guinness Guide of World Data for potential itemizing for the most important variety of artists (119) acting on a single observe, Figaro mentioned.
In that very same 12 months (1998), Figaro mentioned he acquired “The Heritage Award” from the famend Hawks Worldwide group for his contribution to the upliftment of the artform of calypso and metal band music.
On the 1999 Sunshine Awards™, Figaro mentioned he was honored with a proclamation by the Manhattan Borough President, C. Virginia Fields, “recognizing and commending him for celebrating the richness of Caribbean cultural expression by the presentation of the Sunshine Awards™”.
The proclamation additionally recommended Figaro for the founding, in 1998, of the Sunshine Awards™ Pupil Recognition Program. He acquired one other proclamation from the President of the Borough of Brooklyn, Howard Golden, in 2000.
Through the years, Figaro mentioned has “gained the respect of individuals in and outdoors the music trade”, and is incessantly requested to provide and direct music occasions in a number of arenas.
Amongst these had been the College of the West Indies 2000 and 2001 Galas, “Constructing A Legacy,” which paid particular tribute to the previous United States Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, Retired Common Colin Powell, of Jamaican parentage, and the world-renowned actor, Bahamian Sidney Poitier.
Figaro mentioned he produced and directed the evenings’ leisure, which highlighted performances by the Calypso King of the World, the Mighty Sparrow, and Arrow, the author of the favored hit, “Scorching, Scorching, Scorching.”
In 2003, Figaro mentioned he “actively participated within the bicentennial celebration of the Haitian revolution,” contributing his “time, abilities and voice to the recording mission titled, ‘Joyful Birthday Haiti’”.
He mentioned this CD was produced by the world-famous Haitian drummer / percussionist, Jean Jean-Pierre, to commemorate and spotlight the importance of the 1804 Haitian revolution.
“Joyful Birthday Haiti” included narrations from actors Ossie Davis and Danny Glover, actress Susan Sarandon, and Figaro.
On Jan. 3, 2004, Figaro hosted the “Joyful Birthday Haiti” live performance/program and the discharge of the CD for a sold-out viewers at Carnegie Corridor in New York Metropolis.
The following 12 months, he produced the CD “Then, Now and Endlessly – Quantity 1” as a tribute to his uncle, calypsonian Younger Killer (Daniel Emmanuel Jardine Gilchrist).
In 2006, Figaro mentioned he was the “proud recipient” of his alma mater’s, St. Benedict’s Faculty of La Romaine, San Fernando, Golden Jubilee Award in recognition of his “unparalleled contribution to the performing arts.
A 12 months later, Figaro acquired the “Producer of the Yr Award” from Distinctive Occasions for producing and directing the “Reggae in Symphony” program sequence at Brooklyn Faculty.
In 2011, Figaro produced with legendary music producer, Joe Brown, the CD “Nihil Omnino Christo” (“Christ Above All”).
This historic CD, which features a mixture of music and speeches commemorates, the one centesimal Birthday of Dr. Basil Matthews, the founding father of Figaro’s alma mater, St. Benedict’s Faculty, and the fifty fifth Anniversary of the varsity.
In 2017, Figaro launched one other CD, “4 Instances Blessed”, which was devoted to his grandchildren.
A person of many abilities, pushed by his ardour for the Caribbean and its artforms, Figaro can be famend for his imaginative and prescient and agency perception that “there are not any boundaries to creativity.”
For somebody who has achieved a lot and who continues to make a big contribution to the world, by music, Figaro continues to be surprisingly seen by his pals and friends as being “a really modest and unassuming man making a distinction in individuals’s lives.”
