A Long-standing Legend (Young Bill Rogers) - Personality Profile

Shazad Ali image

“Music is my life and has always been my life ... it is difficult but it is what keeps me going,” said Roger Hinds, known as “Young Bill Rogers,” a Guyanese Calypsonian. For twenty-five years, he has been involved in competitive singing and does not plan to slow down anytime soon. Though there were challenges, he overcame them all, and kept his entertaining desires alive. Singing and writing songs for all genres of music, he is seen as a legend in the Calypso arena.

Born on August 15, 1971, no one could have imagined he would have made such an impact to calypso. Today he is a household name whenever a conversation about calypso begins.

Walking in the large footsteps of his father, Augustus Hinds, known as “Bill Rogers” who was the first international recording artist in Guyana in 1934, Hinds took up singing at the tender age of 10. “I grew up in a home where music was an established ingredient … I had a real likeness for music,” said Hinds.

As a teenager, Hinds participated in a local competition, ‘On Show Young Guyana’ where he sang his father’s most popular song, ‘West Indian Weed-Woman’, written in 1919. After finishing third in the competition, he was reincarnated.

Shazad Ali image - Interview day

His short stay in jail did not discourage him from following his dreams, and at the age of 21, he performed in front of large crowds in the Calypso, Chutney and Soca competitions across Guyana. Though he gained many followers, his mom Yvonne Farley will always remain his number one fan since her motivation caused him to make that bold step to stardom.

The success he has achieved in Calypso, Soca and Chutney monarch competitions has led to him receiving numerous awards. Adding to that, he is also a five-time Shanto (a competition that features a combination of calypso and folk music) winner. After winning many trophies, Hinds set his sights on the regional stage. He has performed in several Caribbean countries alongside many great entertainers, including the Calypso king of the world, Mighty Sparrow and Soca’s best, Machel Montano.

The singer is in awe of his achievements, especially after falling prey to a humorous yet sad mistake in one of his first calypso competitions. With a burst of laughter, Hinds said, “When I first started singing at competitions I hadn’t any experience … instead of me facing the camera I was singing sideways.” This according him resulted in his elimination from the said competition at the quarter finals stage.

Roger Hinds - Stabroek News Image

Another one of his memorable performances was when he won the Chutney monarch for the second time. “I honestly didn’t expect to win … I was so happy,” he said. “A negro man singing in Hindi, and even ‘screwing the bulb’ better than” his East Indian counterparts resulting in two victories. This, according to him showed that Africans and East Indians could live and laugh as one. Later that night, a man he called “Cha Cha” went to the stage to congratulate him. Speaking in an East Indian accent, Hinds said “he told me, ‘hey baya take this [$30,000]. You won a nice competition, you keep it up’ that made me feel elated.”

Hinds at 47 years old, is coping with the challenges of singing in Guyana, being a dedicated father of four, a husband and having a day job. Though all of these are challenging, he still finds time to perfect his beloved craft and remain a formidable competitor to his younger counterparts.

Though he enjoys working as a solo artiste, he confessed it is difficult to be a family-man and still find time to write music. He explained with a chuckle, “sometimes I am home and the children doing something, by the time I dig two holler on them, I have to go out.” However, his song, ‘I grading them bandits’ proves that he makes enough time to keep his calypso rhythm and rhyme in order to produce his master pieces.

Many new-comers into the calypso arena admire Hinds for the intelligence he portrays in his writing and the knowledge he has about Calypso. “He is a living legend and I appreciate to have competed with him at the calypso competition this year”, said Javinchi Thorn, Junior calypso Monarch 2018. He also hopes to emulate the icon in Hinds.

Hinds, in strong words, advised that as an artist one should not go begging for employment. “In fact, you should perfect your craft in a way that persons come looking for you,” he said. He believes that aspiring calypsonians should place themselves on demand, using international singers as reference.

His ability and intelligence was overt as he sat in an interview and craft a song around the setting. He is the holder of Diplomas in Social Studies and Industrial Relations from the Critchlow Labour College. He is also the writer of the book, ‘The life and works of Bill Rogers –and the Origin of Shanto Music.’ The book reflects on the life of his father and explains how the Shanto style music came into being. “It is strictly Guyanese in origin and gave us our own identity in the music arena. It which was written in 2008, funded by the Government of Guyana and was placed on displayed a Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), where it was sold out,” said Hinds. “Many people do not know the true influence my father had on Calypso music in Guyana, they think he is an ordinary man …. he is a legend.”

Although well-known for his entertaining calypso music, Hinds also participates in dramas both locally and internationally. He recently toured with Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Kurt Allen, known for winning many forms of competition in T&T, including Calypso, Soca, Road March and Young King. The tour was an Edu-culture production, which was aimed at empowering youths around the Caribbean. He performed in dramas, written by Allen as the leading actor. Hinds said, “I am planning on having some more tours this year.” This plan is already becoming a reality since he is the only calypsonian selected for the United States of America (USA) independence celebration this year. There he plans to make an impact and infiltrate the Northern culture with Calypso music. He also hopes to use his platform to turn teenagers away from violence and wishes to oversee a government-funded program that can reduce crimes. Though he has not been contacted by the Guyana government, He was invited to give a motivational speech at the University of Guyana.

He also contributed a song to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) entitled ‘Unite to Stop Violence against Women’. The song which was written in 2009 was promoted to stop domestic violence. Roger Hinds did not stop there, as his humanitarian quality was also displayed in his release ‘suicide is not the answer’. This song, in 2016 rocked local and international airwaves, particularly USA and Canada.

Being so long in the game, Hinds’ passion is only growing more and he does not plan on suppressing that desire anytime soon. He was a finalist not only in this year’s Calypso competition, but also in the chutney and soca competitions as well. This feat was never before done by any artiste in Guyana in the same year. He is trying to get better as a performer.

“Everyone has a talent but you need to nurture that talent to see your dreams realized,” said Hinds. What speaks character of the man is that he plans to help youths discover and nurture their talent(s). He has already started with his beloved daughter, Diana, who shares his love for singing. Hinds said that being dedication is testimony to the legend he is today. The legacy of Young Bill Rogers continues—a long standing legend.