The Rounds: Happy Birthday to Onika Bostic (R.I.P), etc

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Christmas is in two days, and if you haven’t finished shopping yet….crapaud smoke yuh pipe. In a time of year that’s literally WRAPPED up in tradition, it’s only natural to take a few moments to pause and remember Christmases gone by.

Do you remember Onika Bostic? De Doctor played a special tribute to her at the beginning of the show. She was a rising soca star from Trinidad, who happened to be the female lead of Antigua’s legendary band, Burning Flames. She died tragically of cranial injuries sustained from a car accident. She was buried on THIS day in 2004, which also happened to be her 25th birthday. Onika bay-bee if yuh hearing my voice...happy 28th birthday!

On a much lighter note, the holiday season marks a special anniversary of Monserrat Festival. Not too many people know much that little british colony in the Caribbean. Not much except for the fact that they have a LIVE volcano. Montserratian posse, hear nah…I am not one of THOSE people. Since my grand daddy was born and raised in your beautiful island, I happen to know that your festival parade takes place every year on December Thirty One. And THIS year, WE celebrating forty five years. Even when the volcano was getting set to burst ten years ago, allyuh didn’t miss a beat. So enjoy de music and mas for this special anniversary year.

Just last year on December 23, two soca artistes in Trinidad were creating a brand new holiday memory together. Happy 1st Anniversary to Bunji Garlin and Mrs. Fay Ann Lyons Alvarez. After one year of wedded bliss, the hard wukkin couple still hasn’t gone on honeymoon – but only because tings nice. They busy making music and entertaining fans. When asked if there were any plans for little black spaniards so-to-speak, Bunji says it’s not time YET. But when de time comes, I’m willing to bet that Fay Ann eh go have no trouble getting she six pack back right away.

Speaking of Bunji, if you missed him at Trinidad’s International Soca Monarch show earlier this year…GOOD NEWS. He’ll be back in 2008. Ready to take on defending champion Iwer George. The two icons shared the crown in 2002. Then Bunji grabbed the crown for himSELF in both 2004 AND 2005. After settling for runner up to Shurwayne in ‘0-6, he announced that he WOULD NOT BE BACK again. Well, lookin’ like he change he chune dis year. My man has some “fiery” tracks out for 2008…and he’s ready to bring first class showmanship back to fantastic Friday.

I’m Nurse Karen, and those were Dr. Jays Rounds. If you want to send me some Christmas cheer, text it to 9-3-5-9-3-5, or leave your comments online on (Nurse)Karen (Etc) at triple W dot mustardseeds dot net. Now back to de docta.

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The Rounds - November 18, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Here at Soca Therapy, we’ve put three birthdays behind us over the last couple of weeks, but we’re still in the mood to celebrate. I missed the opportunity to wish Destra a happy birthday last week. She rang in the big 3-0, performing here in Toronto, up at Palazzo…and from what I hear, age eh go slow her down at all.
Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade went down this afternoon, and I guess it’s safe to say, Christmas is just around the corner. If you’re getting that feeling too, you just might want to join Dr. Jay and Scrunter at Ella’s Banquet Hall next Sunday for the annual Big People Parang Show and Dance. Whether you’re looking forward to the holiday season or the carnival season, it’s definitely the right season for fun.
On Thursday night, one artist was having some fun at the expense of a radio DJ at Trinidad’s 96.1 FM. For reasons of confidentiality, I can’t tell you the names, but the story goes like this. An artist was frustrated over his lack of airplay on the popular station. He and a certain DJ have been criticizing each other verbally for a long time now, but it finally came to a head. The Artiste in question took matters into his own hands by vandalizing the offending DJ’s car with an ice pick, causing $15, 000 TT damage to the 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara. Police were called, and the soca singing hooligan offered to pay the bill…but ah I don’t think he earned himself ANY more air play.
It seems like DJ’s in Toronto have finally given Kevin Lyttle’s Turn Me On a break on the airwaves. The 2001 ragga chune emerged out of Vincy Mas and eventually took the world by storm….for like four years. But, It appears that Lyttle is still turning on fans in East Africa. This week it was announced that Kevin will be headlining a two night “Turn Me On” concert in Kampala, Uganda on December 7th and 9th, following a tour in neighbouring Tanzania. The show will also feature Spragga Benz and a cast of East African recording artists.
This week Alison Hinds took a short break from promoting her new album to type up an email to the Montreal Gazette. A little girl in Quebec was hit by a speeding car on the front lawn of her daycare on Halloween. Little Bianca’s favourite song was “Roll It Gal”. When Alison heard this, she said she was moved to tears. Hinds has a 3 year old daughter, and wrote the letter to send her condolences to the grieving family.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please text your comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5, now back to de Doctor.

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The Rounds - November 4, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds. So, in case yuh just late, Last night was the biggest fete on Toronto’s Fall Soca Calendar. Soca or Die 7, rocked the Kool Haus until early this morning showcasing the explosive talents of Tizzy, Ricky T, Nadia Batson and Problem Child. Krosfyah blessed the party, bringing their signature sound to the performances of Edwin Yearwood, Khiomal, Adrian Dutchin, Mr. Dale and Little Rick. Can you say PRESSURE?
Dr. Jay’s annual birthday party proved, that he’s not getting older…just better. And by the way, same goes for me!
Speaking of Birthdays…Nookie Man Jamesy P now has some evidence that he knows a little something about the subject matter of his songs. He’s the proud father of bouncing baby boy. Treshawn Morgan is the youngest soca scorpio, just born to Jamesy P and his wife last week in Tortola.
On the Carnival Circuit, the Caymen Islands are celebrating “Pirates Week” November 8th to 18th. It’s the national festival of that Caribbean
Territory, although dey big masquerade thing is called Batabano Carnival. That happens each year in May. St. Kitts and Nevis is getting geared up to launch Carnival as well. But that action really heats up over the Christmas Holidays. On Tuesday, Digicel Inferno Carnival launched their new presentation “ The People Who Came,” paying tribute to the ethno-cultural history of SKN.

Thursday night was the annual Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago Awards. COTT governs music publishing in the twin island republic. Machel was a big winner, taking home three major awards. The newly crowned Songwriter of the Year, also took home song of the year, and soca of the year for his road march win “Jumbie”, which was created collaboratively with Kernal Roberts, and Courtney Lewis, who is St. Lucian.
The event was held at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain, and featured a gold carpet for arriving music celebrities. There were special performances from Calypso veteran Lord Nelson and Trinidad’s Own Grammy Award Winner. Billy Ocean lent his voice to the Grand Finale – A rendition of his smash hit Caribbean Queen, performed by three ladies worthy of that title; Sanell Dempster, Nadia Batson and Destra Garcia.
COTT is currently looking into a complaint from Blazer, regarding a portion of his groovy hit “Be Mine to Night” that was illegally used by the UNC political party in their election campaign ads. The singer believes that he was dropped from the bill of 3 upcoming shows, because of what appears to be his public political affiliation. However, he claims that he is not directly connected to ANY party, and dem boys didn’t even have his permission to use the song.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5. Now, back to de docta.

Check out scenes from Soca or Die 7 and this day in studio. Login, and leave me a comment!

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The Rounds - October 15, 2006

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s Rounds. With less than one month to go before Soca or Die five…I’m starting to feel the anticipation in the air. Personally, I think de good doctor gone mad bringing every artiste and they brudda up to celebrate he birthday. But I tell you, when you’re the Prince of Soca, there’s no better way to show the city how much soca has been part of your life, than to throw a party the city will never forget. I’m real looking forward to it. Last week Doctor Jay mentioned that I will be marking a birthday too….dancing into the night with a slew of soca Scorpios -Murda!
This week, MTV Tempo finally released their birthday celebration plans as well. And guess when is their big party… that’s right! Saturday, November 4th. The big anniversary fete goes down on the island of St. Croix. It will feature performances by Shurwayne Winchester, Saucy Wow and a couple of others. But nothing like what we’re doing here. We packing up de KoolHaus with Doctor Jay and a truckload of his soca friends. I don’t think allyuh understand how excited I am to see Kimberly Inniss and Lil Rick perform “My Hips”…oh gosh L’il Rick people!!!
Oh-Kay…back to de rounds. Last week I let you know that Jamesy P was chilling at home rather than going down the road with fellow hit maker Jason Benn in Miami, That’s OK, because it turns out Mr. Benn was doing just fine on he own. Benn took away the 2006 Miami Soca Monarch Title last weekend with a song called “Who to Choose” It appears that the judges chose him. The Trini born singer is based in Brooklyn New York and is known there as a top promoter of Boat rides and Parties. He’s also known for his golden voice, having won New York Soca Artiste of the year four years ago at the first ever international Soca Awards.
I love it when hard working people get their due recognition. Benn is a songwriter too. In the past, he has composed songs for Denyse Plummer, Natasha Wilson, and Candy Hoyte.
Jason says he’ll be stepping it even hotter this year. He wrote a song for Destra called “ I dare you.” And although he hasn’t performed in Trinidad for carnival in three years, he plans to break that habit in 2007.
While we’re talking about hard workers who hadda get they props…I want to direct your attention to Doctor Jay de Soca prince. After all these years of Soca therapy, dat man been busting he hump to give you the very best in soca music. He works plenty hard and understands that sometimes when you’re busy, it’s good to get a little help. Lucky for me, because if wasn’t for Jay, Nurse Karen wouldn’ta ha no wuk.
And I must say, I’m thankful. Since I started bringing you the rounds, I’ve been learning something new every week. This week I found out a little something about my own heritage. Los Angeles carnival takes place in the community of Westchester. It’s home to a good sized Caribbean population as well as lots of Garifuna people. This is especially interesting to me, because of my own Garifuna ancestry. The Garifuna are a mixed race people who are the descendants of Shipwrecked African slaves and Amerindians who lived in St. Vincent. 5000 of them were exiled from St. Vincent when the British colonized the island. So, LA carnival has a slightly different sound track. Soca – Check!, Calypso – Check! And Punta…. Sounds similar to soca, it’s sung in English and Garifuna and comes from Belize, Hunduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and everywhere else large Garifuna populations are found. Maddzart performed last night at a huge Punta meets Soca fete. And right now, he’s joining the action on the road. I definitely have to join that action one day too. Punta music is plenty fun to dance to. And with that I bid you “Bwee-tee Gunyon”, I mean Good Night…
I’m nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Send your comments to Soca a Flow 935 dot com. Now, back to de docta.

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