By: Shama Harrysingh

SOUTH FLORIDA – Neil Dev Persad, a household name here in South Florida and certainly in North America and the Caribbean. Neil is a dedicated and hard working community enthusiast who has been been feverishly propagating Indian culture and religion successfully for the past twenty-five years.

Neil D. Persad was born in Debe, Trinidad. Neil comes from a very talented family and through the guidance and blessings of his beloved parents has always been heavily involved in Music, Religious and multicultural activities. Neil began his music career playing for many temples and bhajan groups at the tender age of 8, when the harmonium he played was even bigger in size than him.

He then started his classical training in singing, harmonium and the tabla from Ustaad Boodlal (Doy) Samaroo an accomplished drummer trained by Professor H S Adesh.

At the tender age of 16 Neil migrated to Toronto, Canada to further his education in the field of Computer Science. While in college, Neil began playing and singing professionally with the great Music Director, Karamchand Maharaj. Neil was also classically trained by Ustaad Dev Bansraj Ramkisson and graduated in the top of his class in all areas. Ustaad Bansraj Ramkisson recognized his potential and embarked on training him in indian classical singing and Tabla.

He has accompanied Bands on many performances throughout North America. Neil eventually started teaching music having received honors from Ustaad Dev’s music college. Neil then went on to form his first band called “Sangeet Canada”, Canada’s first crossover East/West-Indian Band.

Neil has accompanied top entertainers such as Harry Panday, Rajmanie Maharaj, Parry Gosine, Prahalaad Sooknanan, Bul Bul Ganguly (India), Naqi Bilgrami (India), Taruna Devi and Bansraj Ramkisson.

In 1988 Neil moved to Florida and formed the “Florida Melody Makers”, South Florida’s longest surviving Indian Band. Neil started his recording career in 1991 and made his first cassette entitled “Gems Of Mukesh Volume 1”. He has since completed 6 recordings and continues to devote his precious time and talents to the upliftment of children and his community throughout the world. He has taken the Florida Melody Makers Band to great heights and has accompanied some of the best artistes in the world. Neil’s Idol, has always been the great Vareendra Persad (Leader of Triveni).

Vareendra and Neil are very good friends and share a great relationship. Neil is now an ordained “Pandit” Hindu Priest and is propagating his religion and culture throughout the continent.

Neil is the president of the Divali Nagar Inc, a Non Profit group which celebrates Divali on a global, World Class Stage annually here in Florida.

He is a proud father and married to a wonderful devoted wife who shares his dreams and compassion for serving the community culturally and spiritually.

Neil can be found on “Facebook” at “Neil Dev Persad” or emailed at [email protected].