JUMO Primo has come a long way in his musical career, and is quite pleased with his latest achievement. He says that nothing – “and I mean nothing!” — can come between him and his music. For Jumo, music is life, and he simply cannot function without it!

The enterprising, high-energy artiste has made a name for himself in both local and foreign climes, and was honoured in the United States of America (USA) on May 31 last when the City of East Orange, New Jersey presented him with a certificate of re1cognition as Soca King and Cultural Ambassador of Guyana for his active support and participation in the City of Orange’s 6th Annual Flag Raising Ceremony in honour of the 47th anniversary of Independence of Guyana; and he also received the Guyana Soca Monarch plaque from Guyana America Heritage Foundation’s Lady Ira Alison Butters-Grant and Carlyle Fraser at the 2013 Flag Raising Ceremony in East Orange, New Jersey.

Primo’s nickname, “Rubber Waist”, was derived from his non-stop hip movement, which by the way is one of his trademarks welcomed by patrons, especially the women folk. He is the father of three and is unmarried.

The musical journey hasn’t been easy for Primo, who said that it is all about discipline and sacrifice. Today he is very pleased to be recognised overseas.

He said, “For me, it is one of the highest awards I received yet of out Guyana, and it is a big achievement for me; and it goes to show that locals can make it happen.”

The entertainer said that more should be done for arts and entertainment in Guyana, since there is so much potential here. For him, things haven’t been always “a walk in the park” so to speak, but hard work paid off in the end.

Primo is the Soca Monarch for 2012 and 2013. He won the Groovy Monarch in 2009, and has many songs, include “Nosy People”, “Bad Mind”, “Dip and Go Down”, “One People, One Nation”.

He added that the album titled “Storm” will soon be released, and that he is presently working along with three other local artistes, namely Jory, Adrian and Quasi Ace, collaborating with Adrian and Jamaican artiste Kiprich for a video called “No More Love”, which will be released in August.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that while performing overseas, the response he gets is overwhelming, but many people there do not know Guyanese music. He is blessed to work with a band — Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires – with whom he has performed abroad, boosting his popularity.

Primo, 34, said that he is working to launch his own band — the Heat Wave Band — in the US, and is very optimistic that good things will happen for him as it relates to reaching his goal in the music industry.

While there is a good response to Guyanese music abroad, Primo notes there are sometimes problems with promoters, and the musician would not get his work published. As such, he feels the need for a website where local music can be downloaded by foreigners.

Primo stated that being an entertainer is not easy. He said he would never give up, but at times it can be very frustrating. Yet again, nothing comes easy.