By Rebecca Kerr

Carnival in the city would not have been complete without the welcomed appearance of the Icon, a living legend, the undisputed King of Soca, the one, the only Austin “SuperBlue” Lyons.

In town for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival festivities, SuperBlue on board a boatride promoted by Troopie and Tasha of Tripple T Entertainment treated patrons to an energized performance.  With some of his older hits like Ethel, Soca Baptist, Rebecca, Signal to Lara, Flag Party, and his more recent hit Fantastic Friday, patrons were treated to a musical feast while cruising on the lake.

Age has not affected SuperBlue’s performance. At 67 he, in his typical style, had the audience – most dressed in blue in his honor, and in total sync with him –  singing along on every rendition, word for word, jumping, waving and wining on his command. His signature moves in most of his performances in his homeland, climbing up on the speaker box or highest scaffolding was not something that could be done on the boat. Nonetheless enjoying Fantastic Friday on a Monday night in the TDot was a memorable time for and with Super Blue.

Since arriving on the Soca scene in 1980, SuperBlue, a Trinidadian calypsonian, musician, lyricist, has been consistently releasing hit after hit. His musical magic has made him a household name not only in Trinidad and Tobago but internationally. He was the first calypsonian to perform at Wembley Convention Centre in London UK; first Soca Monarch winner; first appearance on worldwide broadcast of Trinidad and Tobago carnival via CNN with “Bacchanal Time” and “Birthday Party”; first Road March win 1980; winning a record 10 times since (1980 1981 1982 under the moniker BlueBoy and as SuperBlue 1991 1992 1993 1995 2000, 2013 2018; first double winner of the Soca Monarch and Road March year 1993 with “Bacchanal Time”, and the only calypsonian to appear on Sesame Street. He is also a seven-time winner of the International Soca Monarch.

SuperBlue has many children two of them, Terri Lyons and FayAnn Lyons Alverez have followed in his footsteps and are successful in the industry. Fay Ann a composer and performer has won three Road March titles and performs worldwide with her husband Bunji Garlin and their band Asylum. Terri won the Calypso Monarch 2020, the fifth woman to win the prestigious title. Terri continues to create her own legacy in the industry as a talented singer songwriter and all-round entertainer in the Soca and calypso fraternity.

Slowing down doesn’t seem to be words in his vocabulary. His calendar is booked up till the end of the year.