June is Caribbean Heritage Month, and all across the country, people are celebrating the rich culture and contributions of Caribbean Americans, including Soca legend Darryl “Farmer Nappy” Henry.

Hailing from Triniadad and Tobago, he has been in the industry for more than 30 years, starting when he was just seven years old along with another Soca legend, Machel Montano.

Farmer Nappy told NY1’s Ruschell Boone it all began with singing at parties, also known as fetes.

“That was the moving point for the Soca, is to reach out there for people to know who sang the song itself,” he said.

Every September, the West Indian American Day Carnival is celebrated on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn – except, of course, for 2020. Touring was also halted, but Farmer Nappy said that couldn’t stop them from making music.

“We need to record because this is our life,” he said.

While he isn’t aware of specific plans for the Carnival for this year, he says some kind of celebration should be possible.

Earlier this year, his song “Backyard Jam” won the 2021 Soca Monarch award as well as the Online Road March competition. He said it meant a lot to him that the latter competition was judged by the public.

“Backyard Jam is for the people,” he said.