Orlando Hinds travels many miles yearly from Brooklyn, New York, to Barbados just to make it for the Richard Stoute Teen Talent.
“I always try to come here as often as possible because I really love Barbados and that’s why I want
to be here,” he said.
This year is no different and the entertainer who was in the game for over 35 years told Barbados TODAY that he is excited to be on the island once again because for him it is all about sowing seeds into the youth through his special performances.
The former student of St Leonard’s said that he fully supports the positive work of Stoute who he met through the Mighty Grynner and he said he still looks up to Stoute as an idol and now he’s happy to be a featured performer within the Teen Talent Show. More than performing he said all he wants to do is to support the young performers.
“I think it’s important to give them any help or support you can give them. That’s the reason why I considered coming here to perform because I like to help,” he said.
He recalled that he started singing within the church, back then it was the Church of God of Prophecy where he sang as a young boy.
As he got older he became a part of a neighbourhood band in the Hillaby, St Andrew community and he said from there he grew in voice and experience.
Currently living in Brooklyn, Hinds said that he’s very grateful for the help of Stoute and he’s also impressed with the talent locally.
“I’m one of the few people who have not come through the teen talent show but Richard tries to help in any way that he can.
“The talent here is very high and as I said I travel a lot, I go to a lot of competitions but the talent here is very high. I think Barbados has a lot of talent. The kids here are very talented,” he added.
Hinds said though that as an entertainer he hopes to see something done for the Barbadian artistes who live abroad. “We always have a problem getting our music pushed down here and I don’t understand why.
I would love to see them do something to get our music pushed abroad because we are Bajans too. I think we deserve a chance just like anyone else. My music is played abroad but to get it played locally I always have a difficult time,” he said.
Hinds, who goes by his full name as his stage name, said he recently released Slow Down, a reggae number, and Get Down, which is a soca song. He can be found on YouTube as Orlando Hinds. (MR)
