The Rounds: Shelly G is a no show at Carib Soca Monarch

The Rounds: Originally aired on "Soca Therapy" Flow 93.5 FM in Toronto on Sunday, February 28, 2010

In this edition:

- Bonesman is Guyana's Carib Soca Monarch (Guyana)
- Shelly G fails to defend her title (Guyana)
- Sye wins Mas Domnik Road March title (Domnica)

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Now that we’re all back from Trinidad, it’s time to catch you up on some of the news from the rest of the Caribbean. This week: Guyana. Mashramani Carnival just ended this past week. Vanilla retained her Road March title. Her second consecutive win is brought to you by the song “High”. It was played more often than Jumo’s “In the Air”, “Fan Me” by Slingshot and “Is We Own” by Bonesman.
Guyana crowned a new Soca Monarch last weekend! Last year’s winner Shelly G was a total no-show for the Carib Mashramani Soca Monarch last weekend. While it was a big surprise to all her fans and supporters, the organizers saw it coming, considering she never even bothered to rehearse her presentation beforehand with the band.

In fact, before Mashramani Shelly G spent two weeks in Trinidad where she took in Carnival and recorded new collaborations with an Antiguan artist and three Trinis….one of whom is Miss Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon.

It would probably take a bit too long to explain her reasons for bailing on the event, but it has to do with a fellow competitor who produced a song with derogatory lyrics aimed at her…and some other drama surrounding her being banned from a local tv station.

So, she wasn’t there. But instead, the 29-year old Forest Ranger who goes by the name of “Bonesman” celebrated all that his nation and carnival have to offer with “Is we Own”, the tune that earned him one million Guayana Dollars.
His winning performance featured a costume display and the X factor Dance Troupe, but he says his highlight for the night came in the form of a compliment. Bonesman nearly fainted when he came off stage and Machel Montano told him his performance was excellent! Awwww….how schweeet!

A few weeks ago, I let you know that Dominica would not be holding it’s Soca Monarch show during the Carnival Calendar this year. So no news there, but there is a new Mas Domnik Road March King. Congrats goes out to Sye, a calypsonian from the Salisbury Calypso Tent. His controversial song “Dr. Finger” is the new Dominica Road March, even though it was banned by a popular radio station for it’s lyrical content.
I’m Nurse Karen, and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more info on anything you heard today, look me up on line at Nurse dash Karen dot com…or follow nursekaren on Twitter. Now, back to de Docta!

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Booster Shot: Byron Lee loses his battle with cancer at 73

Jamaica's soca king, Byron Lee passed away this morning after a long battle with cancer. Last week several rumours were circulating that he had already passed. However, Lee's cancer battle continued quietly until today.

The 73 year old musician has been heavy in the business for the last 50 years with a cache of hits like Tiney Winey, Give Me Soca, and Jamaican Ska. He founded The Dragonaires when he was a student at St. George's College in the 1950's.

Coincidentally, if you believe in them things...Lee was conferred with the Order of Jamaica a little over a week ago. The award was bestowed upon him by Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall. Due to Lee's condition, the ceremony had to be held at the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies.

Lee was diagnosed with bladder cancer two years ago. He was undergoing treatment for transitional cell cancer in Miami until last Saturday when he returned to Jamaica via air ambulance.

This is truly a very sad day for Jamaica, West Indian music, and the entire Caribbean entertainment fraternity. I wish to send my sincere condolences to the entire Lee family, the Dragonaires and any reading this who has been touched by this loss.

Below is a photo of myself with Dragonaire's lead vocalist, Jumo Primo, three weeks ago at Broward Carnival.

Byron Lee is no stranger to (Nurse) Karen (Etc). Visit the links below for archived posts about Byron Lee and the Dragonaires

http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2008/11/rounds-byron-lee-is-alive-and-fighting.htmlhttp://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2008/11/rounds-byron-lee-is-alive-and-fighting.html

http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2008/10/rounds-miami-carnival-round-up.html

http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2008/04/rounds-byron-lee-swaps-in-chemo-for.html

http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2008/03/rounds-will-crop-over-change-in-2008.html

http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2007/11/rounds-april-1-2007.html

http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com/2007/11/rounds-january-1-2006.html

If you would like to leave your thoughts, comments or condolences below. I assure you they will be passed along to the Lee family. Tell us your memories of Byron Lee, the man, the musician and his legacy.

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Nurse's Lounge: Broward Carnival, and more Fyah!

Soca people. You know I'm gonna tell you the truth right. Here it is. Broward was better! Organizing a carnival is serious hard work. It doesn't help when a faction breaks away to do their own thing. So, this is not a criticism...just a comparison. Broward, TO ME, felt more like carnival. More space. More people behind the bands. More variety of cuisine. More people as a whole. More Fyah!

Met up with some of the Vincy crew to take a jump, now that was wild!

When we arrived, I was not about to let the rain dampen my spirits. After seeking shelter a couple times I thought to myself....what's the worst that could happen? My lil stick-on ponytail gets wet. Boo hoo. Exactly...who cares? It's carnival.

According to organizers, Broward Carnival had more then 13 thousand paying patrons. If you include vendors, mas bands, performers and media ( LIKE ME!!!) That number mushrooms to 20 thousand people attending. I think some of those extra people stormed the gate, but that's just between you and me.

Backstage with Rikki Jai, Trinidad's Soca Chutney General

You should have seen people going mad behind Red Hot Flames on the road. That band has real energy, and the crowd sought it, caught it and threw it back. The main stage boasted a very international line-up with performances from the likes of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires (Jamaica), Rikki Jai (Trinidad), Traffik (Trinidad),and Krosfyah (Barbados).

Krosfyah posing, just before they brutalized up the stage!

Big dutty big up to the drummer. He actually smashed his snare in the middle of the performance. He kept playing the kit with one hand as the drum was replaced. No one had a clue. I have video of that. So check for it soon on Nurse Karen TV

It was a personal pleasure to meet Jumo Primo. He sings lead for Byron Lee. If you don't know...he and Adrian Dutchin are partners in a group called X2 (Times Two) outta Guyana. Both of them are busy touring with accomplished bands based in Jamaica and Bimshire respectively. But they continue to be great friends, and still work together to mash up Mashramani Carnival in Guyana.

Nurse Karen and X2 at Broward Carnival

That show was mad. Thank you to the Broward Carnival Committee for showing me such great hospitality. Before I go, I wanna send some love to Miss Juliette Mills outta St. Kitts. It was a pleasure for me to catch her live for the first time. She's got a few impressive tracks under her belt and I really look forward to hear more in the upcoming year.

Nurse Karen and Juliette Mills

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The Rounds: Will Crop-Over Change in 2008?

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen, and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. This month we’re marching straight into spring with a little help from Jamaica Carnival. Thanks to organizer Byron Lee, Jamaica can now boast 18 years. Last year, Mr. Lee was battling personal health issues and the road parade was cancelled. But in 2008, it’s all systems go. Organizers are excited to announce confirmed appearances from Biggie Irie, Peter Ram, Iwer George and Destra Garcia. Every weekend this month, warm up fetes will take place ALL across the island. Friday night, Alison Hinds got in on the action, headlining at Wet Fete Dreams. AND finally, Byron Lee and his Dragonaires (including X2's Jumo from Guyana) will parade on the streets of Kingston to close out the month on March 30th.
Looking ahead to another important carnival only…1, 2, 3, 4, 5 months from now! The Barbados National Cultural Foundation is happy to have the nation’s largest cultural festival back under their control. At the end of last season former Prime Minister Owen Arthur snatched Crop Over out from the NCF mandate in an effort to separate the organizations commercial and developmental arms.
Well, there’s a new chief in town, and Prime Minister David Thompson is running things HIS way. His government announced that Crop-Over would undergo a few innovations in 2008. What are the changes you may ask? Steve Blackett, the Minister of Community Development and Culture wasn’t specific when he addressed the press last week. But here’s what I was able to glean: 2 things…increased sponsorship, and a greater connection to the emanicipation season which might alter the calendar of events here and there. As always, your nurse will keep you up to date.
If you’re a soca lover in Toronto, Spring is YOUR time. Believe it or not, the Caribana band launches are RIGHT around the corner. Before you know it, exciting new music will be pouring in from all the Summer carnivals. Let me know which country you think will provide the best soundtrack for the Summer. I've heard some nice little samples out of St. Vincent. My 2 cents: expect to hear the name Skinny Fabulous, over and over again.
While you're waiting for those new caribbean releases, make sure you take advantage of the next few quieter months to legally get your hands on some of the best CDs from Trinidad 2008.
Look forward to some amazing fetes that make this city a soca hotspot like no other. From Fire Fete, to the all-new Toronto edition of Gyal Farm (and all things in between), be sure to support events and products that support soca artistes - any way you can.

I’m Nurse Karen , and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Text your comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5 or check my blog online at triple W dot mustardseeds dot net. Now back to de docta!

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