René Calleja l-Bessie
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René Calleja l-Bessie
is an improvised verse folksinger. Born in the 5th March 1983, he hails from Marsa. He is a horse cab driver.
His nickname was given to him by another horse cab driver who also folk sang, Salvu Sciberras Gwardarobbi. The Callejas didn't have any folk music connection, other than listening to it.
As a seven-year-old his father was already taking him to bars, like Ta' Ġanna in Żejtun and the Labour Party club in San Ġiljan to listen to live events.
When he was fourteen, he was at the Pieta Boċċi Club, that used to be run by Leli Axisa l-Baqra and was encouraged to take part in a six-man bout of improvised verse, where his adversary was Wally Ghiller tal-Isla.
Calleja's favourite folksingers are Leli Sultana l-Moni, Żeppi Meli ta' Sika, Karmnu Fenech Il-Ħandrolla and Salvu Darmanin Ir-Ruġel.
He is currently active.