Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

Soca Parang artiste Ronnie “Champion Ronoman” Ollivierre is celebrating over 20 years in the genre. His newest songs Pelau and Handbag have already been released and he is working on a Power Soca for Carnival 2020.

Ollivierre was called Rono in school, and when he grew up, the man suffix was added, leading to the name Ronoman. He said recently people have begun greeting him as Champion, so he added that to become his new name. Ollivierre began singing parang at age seven in Paramin. He was inspired by his grandfather and later given encouragement by his teachers to enter school calypso competitions, most of which he won. At age 11, he formed his own parang band, El Groupo Del Futuro (the group of the future), which consisted of 15 persons and was the most popular parang band in his neighborhood at that time. The band is now known as the Paramin Serenaders, and still performs with great success, especially at the Paramin Parang Event.

Ronoman pursued his passion to become a solo artiste, and was mentored by two greats in the soca parang world, Crazy and Scrunter. His first soca release was on New Year’s Day 1998, Soca Live, and was followed by his first soca parang release in Christmas that year, titled Rasta Parang. He went on to sing other hits like Miranda, Meringue Parang, Castillion, Parang Where We Want, Gloria and many more. “Merengue parang, which is my biggest song right now worldwide, Miranda, and Bachelor, those are the three songs I came out with. I was also one of the founders of Christmas in July, and 100 Days before Christmas, and I was the first to release a song for Christmas in July, called Madea.”

Ronoman went on to work with entertainers such as Denyse Plummer, MX Prime, Myron B etc., and performed at showcases such at the Randy Glasgow Showcase in the Arima Velodrome in December 2004 alongside Scrunter and at other events during the Christmas Season throughout the years. “It was billed as Ronoman vs. Scrunter, so you see from primary school to grown-up I end up challenging my mentor. I was a bit frightened, I was a bit scared that whole week, because I have my songs but Scrunter have more songs than me, but according to Randy Glasgow, it was exposure for me in a bigger way.”

One of his current songs, Handbag, deals with sexual abuse of minors. “It’s a constructive soca, and it basically says I don’t deal with schoolbag, I only deal with handbag. I did the video in Trinidad, and it can be found on YouTube. It’s also good for programmes, like child abuse programmes and teaching events if people want to reach out to me.”

Ronoman said he plans to enter his new song into the Road March arena, something he has been wanting to do for years. “I’m doing a power soca with Crazy D. A lot of thought has gone towards this day, and I know the event is quite competitive, with Machel Montano in it but I’m not going against anybody, I mean music is a mission, not a competition, but I would like to take part in the Road March competition in 2020 please God. I can’t give the name of the song right now but I want people to have an idea, so I’m not giving out the name until the release.”

This year, the singer has performed in Barbados, in the Big Show Tent, at primary schools, and has been interviewed on the Voice of Barbados, CBC and 94.1. He plans to return for part of the Christmas season. He thanked Merle Niles, Chicken George and Rodney Clarke for his opportunities to perform in Barbados.

Ronoman said although he has several bookings for the Christmas season already, he is always looking for more. “I will be on the Champion Bandwagon with Adesh Samaroo and Marcia Miranda, and we’ll be singing in bars in Tunapuna, Freeport, Penal, and all around the country. I’ll continue to do charity work as well, including performing at the La Seiva Community Centre on November 29 for the children who can’t afford their confirmation clothes. So when people throw office parties during the day, I’m available for that. I’m also available for advertisements, for any TV productions, and I’m available for gigs.”

Even though Ronoman’s career is in music, he said his profession is that of farmer. “I’m an agricultural farmer in Paramin, I plant gardens and stuff, plenty chives, pimentos, hot peppers, tomatoes, although I didn’t plant tomatoes this year but I’m a tomato man. It is very hard for me to work garden and sing at night too, but I’m there at it, I’m fighting the battle.”

Ronoman said his current manager Marlene Mark is the best manager he’s ever had. He said he thanks God for being where he is right now, as he went through a harrowing time when he was stabbed in his spine and foot, and had his foot broken. “I couldn’t walk at all, but thank God I’m back up, I could jump now, I could wave. Most people in the music industry, all the youth of today, I have advice for them, God first, work and never give up, trust and obey, keep that dream.” For more information and bookings, call 396-7407 and email mommcpom@gmail.com.