CYRIL PAUL

9718 UTICA ROAD SOUTH

BLOOMINGTON, MN 55437

(952) 831-1559

ARTIST BACKGROUND

The streets I have walked are packed with memories and experiences. Some of them were made of packed red dirt, crowded with wild herbs and roots, which we used for curing a variety of maladies in Trinidad.

I have walked through ancient Aztec ruins and gazed at the beauty and the glories of ancient civilizations. I have climbed Celtic ruins and viewed with awe the wonders of mankind. I have stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon and beheld the wonder of nature. I have walked on the shores of several oceans and gazed serenely at sunsets. I have seen the destruction of magnificent buildings as a result of war. I have visited places where men, women and children have been destroyed, gassed, because they were outcasts. I have sung the songs of a people who were persecuted and rebuked. I have stood on the altars of Cathedrals and citadels and have sung, accompanied by thousands of human voices. I have marched in cities, arm in arm with fellow human beings for the cause of justice. I have been well schooled by my forebears in the cultural arts.

I have many wonderful stories to share. I have lots of songs to sing. I am as ambitious as Harriet Tubman. I want to conduct you to many destinations. Like Harriet Tubman, I have a passion for justice and peace. I want to share in the leadership of this beautiful country to bring us all to the wellsprings of diversity, justice and peace. I can only accomplish this goal if you the educators and parents and students are willing to take this journey with me.

I enjoy singing with student and teachers. I enjoy sharing my stories. I enjoy teaching my Caribbean heritage. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to be a representative of my Caribbean culture. Sometimes it takes a while to understand the basics of Caribbean folklore, and the few who seem to have difficulty doing so are the ones who do not wish to be there. Thank God, they are the very few.

Working with children fulfills part of my dream. My music is vivacious and energizing, and it has been my experience that children respond in kind.

This year I am anxious to include my expanded knowledge of life underwater, including the ecological aspects of coral reefs and all the manifestations of life beneath the sea. I hope to include stories about sailing and sea life.

The Caribbean Islands are a whole new experience. It is worth the effort to become informed.