Bandleader’s eyes on “Band of the Year” title

Kingsley “Whiteman” Collis, bandleader for High Voltage, says his band is ready and they have their eyes set on capturing this year’s “Band of the Year” title.{{more}}

“We are going all out on this presentation,” he said.

The 2013 presentation is entitled “Tribute 50” and features 10 sections – two junior and eight adult sections, designed by Ozzie Constance.

And according to Collis, this year’s presentation is paying homage to the 50 years of the band of the year competition.

“The sections are inspired by persons in the past, not for what their presentations may have been, but for what we knew them for,” he explained.

The sections are as follows: junior male – Roy Ralph; junior female – Sheggy John; Fuzzy Nights, Avis Yorke, Denise Marshall, Scully Hunt, Backstreet Boys, Moby Dick and Sevens, Samo and Bridgeboys.

And this year is a special year for the mas band, according to Collis, in that it is the 10th year that they have been coming with a presentation.

“We came from 10th place to 5th; the best finish was 3rd for the Band of the Year competition,” he said.

There have been other accomplishments, including a second place finish in the “Queen of the Bands” competition.

And although they are yet to capture their first Band of the Year title, Collis anticipates that this is the year that they will be taking the grand prize.

He said that it is the love for mas and Carnival that keeps him and the others coming back year after year.

“And if you check the names, a lot of them were from the Paul’s Avenue area and 95 per cent of those behind High Voltage making the costumes are from Paul’s Lot.”

“It’s in our veins, it’s in our blood. This is how we find work and we enjoy doing this,” he said.

Collis said that the presentation is on track and is currently about 15 per cent completed, but it should be completed by end of May.

He said that he is about to travel to Trinidad to purchase decorations.

“We have a good presentation this year that is second to none,” Collis said.

“If we get this presentation to a finish, it will be one of the most beautiful presentations High Voltage has brought in the 10 years,” he added. (DD)