Terry Gajraj

Terry Vivekanand Gajraj (born 12 June 1971) is a Guyanese American chutney and chutney-soca artist.

Terry Gajraj
Born
Terry Vivekanand Gajraj

(1971-06-12) 12 June 1971
Fyrish, Guyana
NationalityGuyanese
American
Other namesGuyana Baboo
Terry G
CitizenshipGuyanese
American
Musical career
OriginGuyana
GenresChutney and Chutney-soca
Years active1989–present
LabelsMohabir Records
Websiteterrygajraj.com

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.[1][2][3] 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.[1]

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.[1][4] 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.[1] 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.[1][2][3]

His popularity spread to Trinidad and Tobago, where he performed at the Trinidad Spektakula festival and appeared on national television.[1] In 1995 he became the first Guyanese artist to perform at the T&T carnival.[1]

Between 1990 and 2000 he release a total of 14 albums.[1]

In 2009 he collaborated with Dheeraj Gayaram on the stage show West Indian Dreams.[5]

In 2015 he was nominated in the 'Male Soca Chutney Artiste of the Year' category at the International Soca & Chutney Awards.[6]

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

References
  1. Thompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, pp. 109–111
  2. Gildarie, Leonard (2013) "Singing Ambassador Terry ‘Guyana Baboo’ Gajraj is a ‘Special Person’", Kaieteur News, 17 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2016
  3. Post, Jennifer C. (ed.) (2005) Ethnomusicology: A Contemporary Reader, Routledge, ISBN 978-0415972031, p. 289
  4. Andrews, Erline (2006) "Terry Gajraj: “I miss Guyana so much”", Caribbean Beat, Issue 82 (November/December 2006). Retrieved 26 April 2016
  5. Alleyne, Oluatoyin (2009) "Dheeraj eyes Broadway", Stabroek News, 17 October 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2016
  6. "Nominees for International Soca & Chutney Awards announced", Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, 21 August 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016
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