Booster Shot: Blakey checked into rehab

This afternoon,Vincentian calypsonian turned drug addict, Blakey, was checked into the Turning Point Rehabilitation Facility in St. Lucia. After several months of significant progress under the careful watch of family members and his musical team, Blakey will continue treatment in the care of qualified medical professionals

Meeting a reformed Blakey for the first time at Insomnia 2008 (Arnos Vale, St. Vincent)

When Project Blakey began in St. Vincent in the Spring, many people believed it to be a gimmick. A soca artist (Skinny Fabulous) and a producer (Kubiyashi) took a homeless drug addicted vagrant, brought him to the studio and made him an instant star. Blakey's "No More Long Talk" rose to the top of the nation's charts over night, and an alcoholic crack fiend was accepted as a legitimate performing artiste. The duet with reigning Soca Monarch Skinny Fabulous has begun to take hold outside of the archipelago, now in the #4 position on the Toronto-Lime.com soca chart.

Producer Kubiyashi

Throughout the Vincy Mas season, Blakey did his best to remain sober out of respect for the persons who took interest in his welfare. However, he suffered a major relapse on Carnival Monday which drove him back temporarily to both the bottle and the pipe.

Those who recognized Blakey's latent charm and previously unappreciated talent have continued to financially support him on his journey. Along with the aid of Skinny Fabulous and Kubiyashi, Blakey's stint in rehab was made possible through contributions from local businessed Tha Hook Up and Pulse, as well as the Vincy Soca Dans and Vincentian glamour model Odini Sutherland.

Hanging with Skinny Fabulous in Toronto

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The Rounds: Homeless alcholic releases a popular soca track

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and this is your Victoria Day LONG weekend edition of Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Last night we finally got to cross Soca or Die 8, part one off our lists of things to do. And what can I say?..we dunned it one hundred po-cent! Check the lingo.

Maximus Dan with Nurse Karen

Kerwin Du Bois brought smooth vocals, and raw energy to the crowd at KoolHaus before Atlantik took to the stage for an action packed show featuring the ever-hypnotik Tizzy of El A Kru, a svelt version of my soca super-hero Maximus Dan and Miss Destra Garcia performing hit after hit in some awe-inspiring fish net stockings. Yes girl, I see you!

Destra Garcia with Nurse Karen

If you missed out, try and get your act together for tonight. It’s a showdown of epic proportions at Palazzo. Faye-Ann, Bunji, Nadia and Iwer are bringing they toppa top acts direct from Trinidad’s Power Soca Monarch Show. Be there or ...well Soca or DIE...this is not a joke thing!

Atlantik backstage at Soca or Die

One quick Big Up to Farm P as he wraps up production of the Sexy Chocolate Girls video today. The video was shot in Trinidad and Canada, directed by Royette of Caribbean Vibrations TV.


In other news....the summer carnivals are heating up nice and lovely. St. Lucy Parrish in Barbados hosted the 3rd NCF cavalcade of the Crop Over season last night. The evening featured free performances by some of BIM’s most respected music vets; Red Plastic Bag, Gabby and GRRRRrynner. Jabae was there too, and from all reports Barry’s diet is going real well. He go have he sexy back in time for August. This year the events are coordinated by Peter Boyce who most people know for his outspoken criticisms of the crop over festival in the past. Now he is sleeping with the enemy, trying to develop respect for the local music industry through the rural cavalcades.

Dr. Jay and Nurse Karen

St. Vincent’s Jamesy P cancelled all gigs over the past week to be close to the fam this weekend. Very fitting after the release of his new tune “We will survive,” which pays tribute to his wife for her tireless commitment to the man who got famous off a chune called Nookie! Today, he’s quietly ringing in his birthday in Tortola with his wife and son.

Tizzy with Nurse Karen

But the biggest news out of Vincy Mas is a song called “No More Long Talk” by Skinny Fabulous... and a guy called Blakey. Believe it or not Blakey is what you might call a vagrant. He now lives on the streets of Kingstown after a losing battle with alcoholism and cocaine robbed him of his earlier life as witty calypsonian and talented painter. Non-Fiction Recordings has embarked on what they’re calling “Project Blakey” to restore the man - artistically and physically - to his former glory.

Nadia Batson with Nurse Karen

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Catch me online at the (Nurse) Karen (Etc) blog at Mustard Seeds dot Net for more soca news, and as always download the podcast to get the rounds on the go. Now, back to de docta!

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