Harold Boodoo

Harold Boodoo, a master keyboardist of national and international acclaim, was born on St. Johns Road in St. Augustine, North Trinidad. From as early as six years old, his extraordinary connection to music began to reveal itself. With a simple toy shaped like a pan flute and later a harmonium, young Harold would experiment endlessly, picking up notes by ear, searching for melodies in the air, and teaching himself to recreate the songs he loved. Recognizing his son’s rare gift and deep passion, his father, Simon Boodoo, purchased a harmonium for him, a defining moment that set the stage for a lifetime devoted to music. Harold’s desire to master the instrument was unwavering.

His remarkable ability soon caught the attention of Dean Maharaj, leader of the Jit Seesahaihai Melody Makers, who auditioned the young prodigy at his home. With his parents’ blessing, Harold was recruited into the band, beginning a long and distinguished chapter from 1958 to 1980. During these formative years, his artistry matured, and his reputation as a gifted and dependable musician flourished. He later joined the BWIA National Indian Orchestra as a keyboardist from 1980 to 1987, where his natural brilliance and expressive playing earned widespread admiration and rave reviews. In November 1987, Harold migrated to Canada, carrying with him decades of experience and a heart full of melody. Notably, he performed to a packed audience at the prestigious Roy Thomson Hall during a BWIA National Indian Orchestra production — a proud and defining moment in his international journey.

In Canada, he became a member of the Sur Bahar Orchestra for approximately ten years, further solidifying his standing in the Indo-Caribbean musical community. Thereafter, he established himself as a highly sought-after freelance musician, accompanying legendary playback singers such as Manna Dey, Ravindra Jain, Anup Jalota, Behroze Chatterjee, Anupama Deshpande, and Sharda, among others. Throughout his illustrious career, Harold has shared stages with a constellation of celebrated artistes including Bhim Singh, Karamchand Maharaj, Vijay Ramkumar, Mayodeen Akbarali, Satrohan Maharaj, Premchand Jagdeo, Polly Sookraj, Rajmanie Maharaj, Sally Edwards, Seeta Pooran Panday, Kailash Kowlessar, Narie Mahabir, Bhaskar Sharma, Bisram (Tatsil) Moonilal, Lalchand Rafi Singh, Lakshmi Rampersad, Sham Rampersad, Nazimool Khan, Jaya Kitchlu, Naqi Bilgrami, Devindra Pooran and many more, leaving audiences enriched and inspired by his refined accompaniment and captivating presence.

Today, Harold Boodoo continues to shine as the leader of the EKTA Orchestra in Canada, where his keyboard artistry still enchants listeners with elegance, sensitivity, and emotional depth. His melodies are not merely played, they are felt. With every performance, he creates treasured memories for audiences across generations. An ace musician, a dedicated bandleader, and a humble soul, Harold Boodoo’s legacy is written not only in notes and chords but in the countless hearts he has touched through his lifelong devotion to music.

“Do you have a special memory captured on film or audio? Please email any photos, videos, or audio recordings you may have to hindisongstt@gmail.com. We are looking to preserve the many beautiful moments shared with the illustrious Harold Boodoo.”   (Copyright Nisha Sharma 2026).