Jan. 4, 2002 – "Mighty Pat" did his comeback king thing again Thursday night, capturing the Calypso Monarch crown at the Crucian Christmas Festival with renditions of his "Stop Beating Your Woman" and "Don't Mess With America."
A calypso competition winner multiple times since the 1980s, on St. Thomas as well as St. Croix, "Mighty Pat" — Samuel Ferdinand — was last year's Crucian Festival first runner-up to winner Campbell "King Kan" Barnes. Ferdinand, a Crucian, won the V.I. Carnival Calypso Monarch title twice in the 1990s and took first runner-up honors at the St. Thomas event in 2000.
For his 2002 victory, Ferdinand received $3,500 along with the title and trophy.
First runner-up this time was St. Thomas's "King Kun Fu Plentae," who was awarded $2,500. Second runner-up honors went to Crucian Sharon "Shari Diamond" Brooks, who received $1,500.
The competition Thursday night at Island Center went into the early hours of Friday morning as 11 contenders vied for the title in dual rounds of competition.
Also competing in addition to the winners were Morris "King Generic" Benjamin, Allan "King Herring" Clarke, Lesroy "Happy" James, Elvis "Tumba" Liburd, Karen "Lady Mac" McIntosh, "Lady Ann" Sorhaindo, "Princess Rosealyn" Sorhaindo, James "Monarch" Wakefield
Masters of ceremonies for the competition were DJ's Bad Company from St. Croix's Magic 97X-FM and Sly J, "the Chief Rocker," from ZDK Radio in Antigua.
Friday's main event was the Children's Parade, which was to be followed by live music in the Festival Village from 3 to 7 p.m. by Generation Band, from 8 to 11 p.m. by New Direction out of St. Vincent, and from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday by St. Thomas's P'your Passion.
Saturday brings the Adults' Parade, scheduled to step off at 11 a.m. In the Village afterward, there'll be music by Native Rhythms from 6 to 8 p.m., Liquid Sounds from 9 to 11 p.m. and V.I.O. International (formerly Violators) from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday.
Sunday's Village music will feature Phranchize Band from 5 to 7:30 p.m., V.I.O. again from 8 to 11 p.m. and the "Last Lap" sounds of soca band Burning Flames out of Angitua from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday.
Monday's finale for "A Little Bit of Old and All That's New for Crucian Festival 2002" is the festival Calypso Show, featuring newly crowned monarch Mighty Pat, Xpress Band and this year's festival junior calypsonian winners — Lady Dictator (Pee Wee #1), Lady Terror (Pee Wee #2), Island Shadow (Intermediate Calypso King), and Lady Sash (Junior Calypso Queen). The show starts at 8 p.m. The Village closes at midnight.
