THE 2010 Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant will honour legendary Guyanese singing star Eddy Grant, Head of the Organising Committee, Ms. Pamela Dillon announced Monday.
She said the nine delegates are required to do research and make presentations about the singer who hails from Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
Describing the group as a talented bunch, Dillon said the contestants were “getting high” on Grant’s music and, currently, they are rehearsing an opening dance and individual covers of his songs.
The prominent beautician and entertainment entrepreneur said the decision to make Grant the honoured person was made because of the committee’s admiration of the work of the 62-year-old musician.
Dillon praised Grant’s music and his attitude, declaring they are “particularly Guyanese.”
She mentioned his contribution to the ‘ring-bang’ type music for which he is noted.
Grant, who migrated to  the United Kingdom (UK) with his parents, recorded his  first number one hit there in 1968, when he was the lead guitarist and main songwriter for the multiracial group, ‘The Equals’, with  ‘Baby Come Back’, the lyrics of which he, himself, wrote.
In 1982, his solo recording of ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ remained number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks and he scored a ‘Top Ten’ album the same year, with ‘Killer on the Rampage’.
Come 1983, ‘Electric Avenue’ was both a UK and United States (U.S.) number two and it was a UK hit, again, in 2001 with a remix.
His political protest songs include ‘Gimme Hope Jo’anna’, about apartheid in South Africa and it was banned in that country. ‘War Party’ and ‘Living on the Front Line’ were released in 2001 as ‘Eddy Grant, the greatest hits’.
Dillon said pageant goers can expect to see a wide range, as in previous years when emphasis was placed on talent and presentations will include vocal renditions, dance, poetry, drama and playing of musical instruments.
She said the rivalry would be stiff this year and it would be difficult to select a queen.
The contestants have to appear in swimwear and casual wear and there will be an intelligence segment, all on the night of November 6, from 20:00h at the National Cultural Centre (NCC).
Tickets are available at the NCC, Simpli Royal Spa and from any of the delegates.