Wizard

Merlin St Hilaire started singing in school choirs. He also served as choir leader at the Canefield Catholic Church for many years. He was an avid theatre lover, acted in and used his musical talent to compose the theme songs for numerous plays produced by the New Dimension Theatre. He was also for many years a guitarist for the Dominica Folk Singers. This multi-talented individual made his first appearance in the National Calypso Competition in 1988 and placed second with the songs "Those were the Days" and "Song of Love." That year he also placed second in the Independence Calypso Competition.Merlin won the Dominica Calypso Competition Crown in 1989 by performing the songs "Feed my Brother" and "Young and Restless." He migrated to New York that year for studies but returned to Dominica the following year to successfully defended his title by singing "Yes, There's Hope" and "Provocation."He represented Dominica at the regional Caribbean Broadcasting Union Song Festival in Jamaica in 1991 and placed second. Merlin also participated in and won the first ever New York / Dominica Calypso Competition in 1996 in New York. His diverse musical attributes, strong stage presence and versatility are well known and have been greatly appreciated in Dominica and in various Caribbean islands where he has performed. Merlin St. Hilaire known to many by his calypso name “Wizard “ has written or composed or arranged music for Dominican performers or calypsonians. Among them are Young Bull, Observer, Senator and others and continues to do so. His musical influences are David Rudder, Chalkdust, Sparrow and Bob Marley. Merlin lives and works in New York and is married with three beautiful children.