Tony Ramasar

Tony Ramasar is widely recognized as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most outstanding and accomplished tabla players. Born in Pasea, Tunapuna, North Trinidad, his musical journey began at a very early age within a home filled with traditional music and devotion. As a child, Tony was deeply influenced by his grandmother, Parandaye Ramasar, whose dholak playing and traditional singing created the musical atmosphere in which he grew up. Having lost his mother, Samrattie Ramasar, at the tender age of three, Tony developed a very close bond with his grandmother. During his childhood years, he often accompanied her and the ladies’ singing group, playing the dholak while they performed traditional songs and Bhajans. This early exposure to rhythm and devotional music played a significant role in shaping his musical foundation.

At the age of twelve, Tony’s father, Tommy Ramasar, brought home a pair of tabla. What began as youthful curiosity soon evolved into a serious passion. A year later, Tony met his first guru, Professor Sudhir Verma of Lucknow, India, who was teaching in Trinidad at the time. Under his guidance, Tony devoted himself to the study of the instrument, practicing for hours each day. Recognizing the young musician’s natural talent and dedication, Professor Verma took a special interest in his development and mentored him closely during those formative years. As Tony’s skills developed, he soon ventured into the public musical arena and became a member of the BWIA National Indian Orchestra. From there, he went on to perform with many of the prominent orchestras and bands throughout Trinidad and Tobago. By the age of seventeen, he had already begun building an impressive musical career and accompanied the renowned Bhajan Maestro Hari Om Sharan during his first performance in Trinidad at the very first Diwali Nagar celebrations. Even at that young age, Tony had already toured internationally, performing in Canada, England, and the United States.

Later, Tony migrated to Canada, where his musical career flourished even further. Within the vibrant South Asian musical community there, he gained widespread recognition and had the opportunity to accompany many legendary singers and musicians from India and Pakistan. Among the distinguished artistes he performed with are Chandan Das, Talat Aziz, the Krishnamurthy Brothers, Ustad Mehdi Hassan, Bhajan Samraat Anup Jalota, Sudhir Narain, Irshad Khan, Khalid Saleem, and the legendary Ghulam Ali. Tony Ramasar’s magical fingers and masterful command of rhythm have also graced countless stages alongside celebrated Caribbean artistes including Harold Boodoo, Karamchand Maharaj, Devindra Pooran, Bharat Boochoon, Baal & Lily John, Kailash Kowlessar, Premchand Jagdeo, Narsaloo Ramaya, Polly Sookraj, Nazimool Khan, Bhaskar Sharma, Rana Mohip, Rajkumar (Krishna) Persad, Sookdeo Jagdeo, Vishnu Rampersad, Dhanraj Singh, Janet Naipaul, Khamrune Ali, Bhim Singh, Lakshmi Rampersad, Mohan Nandu, Vijay Ramkumar, Lalchand (Rafi) Singh, and many other distinguished performers from the Caribbean and beyond.

His unique style of playing, marked by electrifying rhythms, intricate variations, and deep musical sensitivity, has captivated audiences wherever he performs. Tony’s ability to blend traditional classical techniques with the dynamic energy of live performance places him among the most respected rhythm maestros in the Indo-Caribbean musical tradition. Today, Tony resides in Florida, USA, where he continues to perform extensively throughout North America. Performing in more than seventy-five concerts annually, he remains one of the most sought-after tabla accompanists in the region. He has also accompanied the renowned Bhajan singer Anup Jalota in more than eighty concerts. Despite his remarkable accomplishments, Tony Ramasar proudly considers himself a lifelong student of the tabla. He continues to refine his craft under the guidance of his present guru, the internationally acclaimed tabla virtuoso Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. His dedication to learning, discipline, and musical excellence reflects his unwavering commitment to the art of rhythm.

Through decades of performance, mentorship, and devotion to music, Tony Ramasar has firmly established himself as one of the finest tabla players to emerge from Trinidad and Tobago, continuing to inspire audiences and fellow musicians across the world.

“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 this highly respected Tabla maestro Tony Ramasir.” (Copyright Pandit Ashram Sharma 2026).