The artistes, Ivan Harry - ‘D-Ivan’ and Gavin Henry - ‘Typical G.T’, originally from the county of Berbice, have been doing wonders in the U.S. in the field of entertainment.

They were scheduled to treat the Guyanese public to calypso, soca and ‘oldies’ at the Sherriff Nightclub on Friday night.

Local artistes Shaun Bhola, ‘Singing Lurlene’, ‘Young Bill Rogers’ and the ‘Wonder Girls’ of the Sherriff Deputies Band were also scheduled to perform at the show entitled the “Fire Ice Concert.”

Stan Gouveia of Sellars said the name of the show indicated a ‘cool’ start and a rise in temperature to that of fire as the show progressed.

The show was sponsored by Banks DIH and North American Airlines, which brought the artistes here.

‘D-Ivan’ of “Get Together” fame and ‘Typical G.T’ performed at the ‘Swari’ held in Berbice in commemoration of Emancipation Day recently. ‘Swari’ means enjoyment after slavery and the beginning of freedom.

‘D-Ivan’, a professional nurse since 1968, told the Chronicle that while the money he earns as a part-time entertainer is important, he is driven more by his love and inner drive for music. “I have a chip in my brain which keeps egging me on,” he remarked.

He is a self-taught, very versatile musician who writes and composes his own songs, and an accomplished guitar and keyboard player.

He became involved in music through singing at school concerts during his days at the Rose Hall High School, which was run by the late veteran Berbician educationist, Mr. Rudranath.

“I was a natural artiste. It was a gift from God,” ‘D-Ivan’ related.

The good-humoured entertainer, who grew up with an aunt, remembers with much amusement that he was also a comedian. But he abandoned that pursuit because he used to be referred as “Nath’s Clown.”

Even though he left these shores way back in 1972, ‘D-Ivan’ remains loyal and patriotic to his country of origin. His music has a deep Guyanese content, promoting the culture and history of his homeland.

Reminiscing on “Get Together”, one of his early hits, he recalled that the message in that song was that Guyanese must live in love and harmony.

He emphasises social messages, and his latest CD entitled “Oh Guyana” has a number of songs on the today’s social problems, including drugs. The song entitled the “Boogeyman” tells of how drug dealers get on to street children and get them involved in the illegal drug trade.

‘D-Ivan’ currently holds the title of ‘Calypso King of Tampa’, which he won at the annual Calypso Tent where he rubbed shoulders with calypso greats ‘Mighty Sparrow’ and ‘Lord Kitchener’ of Trinidad. He wants to make a contribution to Guyanese music and has a deep desire to see local musicians receive the recognition they deserve.

Surprisingly, he is hired more by the Trinidadians in the U.S. than the Guyanese diaspora, but ‘D-Ivan’ said he nevertheless communicates fairly regularly with his countrymen.