Bally

The story so far.

Written and edited by Smokiller

Bally is the calypso name of Errol Ballantyne, a veteran calypsonian best known for the popular "Shaka Shaka". Caribbean Beat places him in contemporary calypso history with that song, "Lucifer", "Maxi Dub" and the biting political commentary "Party Time", which the late critic Terry Joseph called one of the best calypsoes ever. "Maxi Dub", released in 1989, is cited by the same magazine as an early example of the dancehall and soca blend later called ragga soca. Bally also helped younger singers. Rikki Jai, who worked alongside him in Port of Spain, credits Bally with patiently showing him the business and introducing him to the songwriter GB, which led to Rikki Jai's signature song "Sumintra". Later in his career Bally won the Tuco East Zone Calypso Monarch title at the La Hoya Auditorium in St Joseph, singing "Amigo" and "Shaka Shaka" and finishing ahead of De Fosto and Brother Valentino.