On De Scene: Happy 40th Birthday Sheldon,(RIP) from all of your friends

Had fate played out differently, Sheldon Benjamin would have been celebrating 40 years of living and creating here on this plain. God had other plans. So, today we just want to pay homage to the DJ, Producer, Technician whose music and life affected us all deeply.

Knycky was fortunate to be able to attend LIFELINE, a benefit concert held at Trinidad's Club Zen on Sunday, June 7th. There she mingled with dozens of well-wishers from the Trini music community hoping to save the life of their friend. As we celebrate Sheldon's career, let's also give thanks for the thousands he has touched and inspired with his work, imagination and confidence: the movers and shakers of the Caribbean entertainment industry.

Here are some snapshots from special evening.
More love in soca,

Nurse Karen

Camille Benjamin - Sheldon's Sis

Alison Hinds

"De shot call" Granty.

Dancing/singing group, Surge

Tamara Carpette. Vocalist, LIFELINE committee member

Rocky. Entertainer, Mas Man, committee member

Rocky performing

Robert Amar 104.7 fm

Klysha Best of 96.1FM, committee member

Happy Birthday Sheldon and Rest in Eternal Peace. Love from the Nurse Karen Etc family...and the entire Caribbean music industry! May your music live on...

Missed the report on the LIFLINE Concert? Get the story and more photos HERE

Please sing the petition to get a Soca category on MySpace

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On De Scene: LIFELINE, the benefit concert for Sheldon Benjamin

"All these years ah complaining bout the industry not paying meh. Now look how I'm being paid, hmm" That was Sheldon "$hel $hok" Benjamin's response when I asked him how he feels about the benefit concert thrown for him. Looking at him saying this & shaking his head raised my pores...

LIFELINE the concert kicked off (more or less on time) with gospel artiste Russell Leonce. I heard he brought the house down, heard because I was a weee bit late, NOT MY FAULT! (Note to self, shopping list: Digicam, CAR!) De driver was late!!!

Anyhooo, I walked in when H! 2! 0! Phlo! was on stage, they were flowing!!! However, as I looked around, I felt Fridge from the group was justified in asking in his song "where is the love"? I was like yeah whey de love, whey de PEOPLE??? I felt disappointment ooze through my body. Buh guess wha! Dat feeling didn't last long. Trinbagonians just like to bounce in anything late late (bad) & some ah them practically came straight from the airport (good-they came), (T&T v Costa Rica match in Tobago the night before). As I was saying, by 9pm, the place was "ram-ram"( the name of one of the songs Sheldon produced for General Grant).

After the H2 Guys, host Shal Marshall introduced Robert Amar, who was once de Boss man of one of the top 10 recording studios in the world, Caribbean Sound Basin. That was where Sheldon worked when he created de setta hit nah. That studio was home to Kiskidee Caravan. Amar now owns radio 104.7FM and informed the audience that the station was having a "Sheldon night", which is a night dedicated to Sheldon's music, call, request & pledge.

DJ, Host, Presenter for the night, Shal Marshall

He started it off by pledging TT$5,000. on the spot. Another TT$5,000 went into the kitty later on when KMC made his pledge and challenged other Soca artistes. Ah waiting to hear the outcome of that, personally it should have been more-lol. I cah rise to any challenge... did I tell you guys I just bought a hip?

General "Granty" Grant

Every performer & ah not just saying this eh, but every performer MASH UP! Rocky came on after Amar & started the real jam session, he had us singing Gailann's part (cause she was in foreign), while he mocked her wine-lol. General Grant was up next..............O Gosh Granty...hmmm, hmmm, he could have stayed on de stage forever...The rest of the cast were the bands. I will not lie, I could not stay for the entire show so I saw, 3Canal, Boy (Machel) & de HD family, & a bit of Ms Hinds. Ah know real man vex now cause dey cah see pics of Destra's short shorts or de 3 Bumpers: Allison, Saucy, & Destra obsessively winning-LOL. Fellars give me a break nah. I walked, and stood, & posed fuh real long on de hip eh......

3Canal gave their usual outstanding performance . Cutting Crew, their band, REAL cutting! Sound like record & thing.

Machel Montano

The bit I did see of Machel was special. he performed hits, unrealeased hits, played the keyboards, guitar, he geh on, Patrice & de rest of de family was right up dey with him. The concert was FANTASTIC!!! According to Machel, "Big up to all de artistes for coming together to do this. We could always do with more love." I was impressed that the artistes didn't get carried away & kept the night all Sheldon. And we were encouraged in their performances, over & over to say Sheldon's name & send shouts of love & blessings. Soooo looking forward to part two.

Liz "Lady" Montano on behalf of the HD family spent the night to the front of Zen, selling black tees with a picture of Sheldon to the front & some of his hits to the back. That tee real sweet & I encourage you all to purchase one, just contact the HD family. Is only TT$100 & remember the cause.

Marlon Grant. Dancer/Choreographer, Co Host T&T's new show "Dance Off."

I heard that Musicians, performers and DJs in London had their LIFELINE UK yesterday, I wonder how that went.

On a more personal note, I want to publicly thank Sheldon for his inspiration during his difficult time. Recovering from hip replacement surgery can be trying for a person as active as I am & I wouldn't lie, I had my low periods. However, after seeing Sheldon in the hospital, then at home fighting for his life, literally, I thought "wow, I'm so blessed & have so much to be thankful for, why complain?" You know the saying I cried when I had no shoes, then I saw a man with no feet. Yep, that was me...

Thanks to everyone that is supporting with prayers, finance & in every little way. Sheldon's Mum has said to me, the support the family is getting, from transportation to visits to every little detail has been tremendous.

Keep praying guys. We need a miracle...

Part 3 soon...
Bye Socanites,

Oceans may divide us but Soca keeps us together,
Knyxx

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On De Scene: LIFELINE artists take over Synergy Friday Nights

For musicians & music lovers, Friday Night is Synergy night in sweet T&T, you can get any info about the latest parties, artistes etc. Last night, however, looked like it turned into Sheldon Benjamin night! Oh Guuud! According to Rupee, "Look...at...PEOPLE!" Well artistes. Yes man, we went out in our numbers for what was a sort of a live infomercial for Sheldon's Concert. Well really, it was Synergy Friday Nights hosted by Shal Marshall, but with the Sheldon twist.

This initiative was put together by the LIFELINE committee, Shira Mohammed, Neil Bernard, Rocky, Lyndon Livingston, Klysha Best, Tamara Carpette, Giandre Diaz & Signal To Noise. I must also say thanks to Wendell Naipaul & the Synergy crew for their support.

Some of the artistes present were Machel Montano, Shurwayne Winchester, Blaxx, 3 Canal, Rocky, Denise Belfon, & King David. We were all suppose to sing our favorite track produced by Sheldon-yours truly forgot her CD with my song "Life" or "Fed Up" & had to sing Wet Meh -- planned? Nah! Ah forget real thing at home, will get to that.

The artistes truly represented. Everyone was in high form, but special mention must be made of Granty (General Grant). It's been a while since I saw Granty perform, and allyuh...he better than ever! He had us in the studio rolling & shot calling (remember de dance?) with him. I could only imagine what those at home were doing...

Now ah really cah wait for Sunday (7th June) evening when the real Concert is on...

Now here this aside...Amm, amm, I forgot the DIGITAL Camera at home. Yes man, ah get one. Well borrowed. Yes it was still on the bed, with meh performance CD. How could I? When leaving home, note pad, Camera, note pad, camera, notepad, camera. make it stick!

Anyhow, the ever so sweet committee members, organized a camera for me & were suppose to send me the pics since last night! Ah still waiting. This report couldn't wait so I'm going full speed ahead & if I do get the pics after, I promise to post just for you.

Speaking with Camille, Sheldon's sister, after the show, I learnt Sheldon enjoyed the show. And was most concerned for me and the hip when ah start to throw water. LOL.

Bye Socanites,

Oceans may divide us but Soca brings us together,
Knyxx...

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