Nurse's Lounge: Happy 90th Birthday Officer!

I've never been too keen about sharing my personal life. In spite of my hobbies and vocations over the years that place me in the way of public scrutiny, I actually work very diligently to keep my life, my REAL life very private.

I live a life that is full, blessed, and challenging.  I have a small circle of close friends, and a huge loving family who accept me in all my various reincarnations.  This weekend, I spent hours and hours in the company of many of those relatives.  People rushed in from England, Montserrat, Trinidad, The United States, and of course St. Vincent and the Grenadines to mark the occasion of my Grandfather's 90th Birthday.

I didn't go to Vincy Mas this year, and to be honest it kinda hurt.  Yes, I love carnival but, as you know, I experience several carnivals in a given year.  The greatest joy of returning to St. Vincent annually for carnival is the ability to celebrate my Grandfather's birthday with him, as it always falls smack dab in the middle of the action.  When the usual sponsorship arrangement that enables a team from Toronto-Lime dot com (that includes me) to hit up Vincy Mas fell thru, the emotions were mixed.  Truth be told, it's some of the best work you can get...going to the Caribbean to cover carnival, but I'm getting married this year.  I'm busy...and skipping town weeks before the big day isnt' what I would call a wise decision.  However, I really wanted to be there, this year more than ever as this year had it all worked out.  My cousin "Slimmy" and I would have been their celebrate the 90th year of our maternal patriarch, the legendary hero of our family.

So I missed the actual day of his birth, but five days later, he was here in Toronto.  He sat in a banquet hall filled with some 80 of his descendants and relatives, and he was honoured.  So blessed am I to come from a family that unites for occasions like this.  I met some folk for the first time.  I got to catch up with a favourite uncle from my childhood, I got to eat, drink and dance with people who share with me one of life's most vital commodities .... blood.

I saw my family in a new light.  I saw my brother as a confident master of ceremonies.  I heard my mother deliver a heart-felt address. My auntie sang beautifully and humbly, and we all joined in. A beautiful hand painted work was unveiled by another grandchild.  Slimmy wrote and read out a biography that made your heart want to leap out of your chest.  I had the pleasure of composing and performing an original poem in Grandpa's honour. The younger ones ushered.  One cousin made beautiful favours, so we would all have a keepsake of the occasion.  An auntie baked and decorated one phenomenal black cake befitting of a first rate gala occasion.  And I really could go on and on.  I am so proud of my family. So proud, and I really couldn't help but share.

Below, is my brother's tribute video "Portrait of a man".  It tells some of my grandfather's story...and it tells the story of the Canadian branch of "Dalys" through video and still photos.  It shows our family home in St. Vincent, and people who we have embraced over the years as family by choice. It's just what we do.

If you've ever wondered who I really am, perhaps this will begin to answer your question.

Love,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U celebrated 1 year, etc!

Originally aired on Flow 93.5 FM in Toronto "Soca Therapy"

In this edition:

- Shurwayne and Y.O.U. celebrate one year (Trinidad and Tobago)
- SVG goverment promises money to artists (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
- Problem Child's Mad House Tour Reality Show (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
- December carnivals: St. Kitts, St. Croix, Montserrat
- Soca or Die (Canada)
- This week's soca birthdays: B.V.I, St. Kitts and Nevis

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Last Tuesday, Shurwayne Winchester and YOU celebrated their 1st anniversary together as a band. The event took place at Woodford Cafe in Trinidad, the same place they held their very first performance just one year before. Since then, they have the have grown as a cohesive unit, opened their own band room, produced the ABX Riddim for Carnival 2k10, and recorded 18 of their own songs. Shurwayne announced that Y.O.U. would be releasing a new album on the 1st of December.
The very same date marked the 30th anniversary of independence for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. There’s all kinds of reasons why something like that is important news for the rounds, but allow me to give you one more. To mark the occasion, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the government’s plans for an economic stimulus package that includes 1 million dollars in grant money to be doled out to its cultural entrepreneurs. It plain English, the soca artists are getting cheques in the mail just for being creative. Boyyyy, nothing says happy Indy like free money.

Speaking of SVG, I’m not sure how many of you knew that St. Vincent’s Roadmarch king, Problem Child has his very own reality show. It’s called the Madhouse Tour and it launched on St. Vincent’s K45, Iktv channel in the fall. I never mentioned it to you before, because there were no videos online. Well now there are. If you surf over to youtube, You can see funny clips of the artist’s adventures all over the place, including....TORONTO.
We all know that Trinidad Carnival is coming in February. But there are actually several other Carnivals before then. In December three other Caribbean Islands will heat up with the sounds of soca, and theatre of mas; St. Kitts, St. Croix (USVI), and Montserrat. The 2009 Montserrat Festival calendar was just released this past week, with a packed agenda of activities from December 4th through January 1st.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Today is only November 1st. So, happy birthday goes out to soca artist, Lincoln Ward in the British Virgin Island. Then on Saturday, the Parade of Scorpio b-days continues. That night will be the 1st ever Soca or Die Surprise Birthday party for Dr. Jay and friends. Hope you got your tickets! But it’s also the birthday of Juliette Mills from St. Kitts, Tabia from St. Vincent, and Scarface from Trinidad. Don’t look surprised, we already told you November is the month of the Soca Baby!

Before I go...good news. Knycky Cordner performed again with her band Ventures for the 1st time since her hip surgery earlier this year. Happy to see the girl back in action!
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. To get the news first, be sure to visit nurse dash Karen dot com or follow me, nursekaren on Twitter. Now back to de Docta!

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Booster Shot: 2009 Montserrat Carnival calendar

If you happen to have some time off during the holiday season, and are wondering where you might go for some sweet soca and carnival action.  Why not check out Monserrat Festival 2009?  There's lots going on, on a small picturesque island that most of the word only knows for its active volcano.  My Grand father happens to be from Montserrat, so it holds a special little place in my heart.  Here's some of the action you can look forward to:

DECEMBER 2009
4 Calypso Eliminations
17 Calypso Semi finals
18 Opening Of Festival
19 E.C.Singers / Soca Monarch
20 Nite of Pan / Princess Show
21 Teenage Pageant
22 Voices
25 Carol Singing
26 Street Jam / Female Calypso Show
27 Festival Queen Pageant
28 St. Johns Day
29 Funkyman Awards
30 Calypso Finals
31 Festival Day Troupes and groups

JANUARY  2010
1 New Year's Day Parade / Closing / Prize Giving

Love and Carnival,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: The Baron robbed at Piarco airport

Good Evening Soca Lovers and Happy two-thousand and wine.  I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds.

Congratulations on arriving in the New year safe and sound.  Now that 2008 is over, let us try and leave all that badmind ting behind.  I'll tell you what I mean. Trinidad's silky voiced veteran crooner Baron, appeared to be the unfortunate victim of theft on December 28^th.  It happened at Trinidad's Piarco airport on his way to Toronto to perform at a New Year's Eve fete.

  If you've ever seen the Baron perform, you know that he likes to sport a treasure trove of gold chains around his neck.   According to his manager, the entertainer placed a pouch containing the items on the counter when visiting the washroom. The lost jewellery is reputed to have a value of $75 Thousand TT, which is about  $15 grand Canadian.  Naturally, the man was NOT too pleased about that. It's real sad, the jewellery represented a personal collection amassed throughout his lifetime in the music business. This year people, take my advice...Don't worry about who have and who does not.  Achieve a little something and get your own.

  St. Kitts and Nevis chipped its way into 2009 by closing out their carnival season with a bang.  For the second year in a row, Grand Master's band copped the road march prize with the song "A Want Whale" from its 2008 album "Whaling Season".  You could bet there's some kinda double meaning in THAT.  Last year's road march was Boom Bam Bam. That song received a soca awards nomination in the Best Uptempo - Male Category. This is the sixth road march for Grand Master's Band.

If one of your resolutions is to finally make that trip to the mecca of Caribbean carnival next month or even to save a little money, boy have I got some bad news for you.  In spite of the global economic crisis beginning to rear its ugly head in these parts, the cost of carnival fetes is actually going up.  Many suspected that ticket prices would be made available at a discounted rate, however in most cases, they have either stayed the same or increased in price.  One example would be the popular Beach House All-inclusive which has gone up from $600 TT to $800 in 2009.  (That's One hundred and $160 CDN for one fete. )  I don't care how open the bar is...I don't even think Dr. Jay could drink his money's worth.

Before I go, I promised that I'd let you know what happened at Crucian Christmas Festival Party Monarch Competition in December.  Personally, I resolve to always keep my promises.  So here goes...Toby Dee successfully defended his title with  "Hands High" and he continues to be the Party Monarch of St. Croix.  But remember that anything is truly possible with a brand new year ahead.  Over in Montserrat, Rondell Meade managed to flatten his more experienced competition by capturing the Soca Monarch crown on his very first attempt.  He got the crowd hyped and happy with his performance of My Festival, placing him ahead of former Road March King Flying Dove and US-based crossover artist Kulcha Don.  

I'm Nurse Karen and that was your first edition of Dr. Jay's Rounds for 2009.  Why not start something new this year, and follow the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple w dot mustard seeds dot net for more juicy soca-related information.  You'll be happy you did.  Now back to de docta!

Karen L. Richardson
a.k.a "Nurse Karen"
Entertainment Writer

Visit my soca blog (Nurse) Karen (Etc) at http://mustardseedmedia.blogspot.com

Subscribe to "The Rounds Podcast" http://www.socatherapy.com/podcast/therounds.xml
Got iTunes?  click http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=278264462 to subscribe to The Rounds in iTunes!

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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 - September 23, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s rounds. Did I ever tell you how much I LOVE SOCA. Well, if you pay attention to the way WE music getting popular right here in Toronto, it’s clear that I not the only one!
Alison Hinds is now Rolling it all over Much Music. Zoelah Going Down Low, right here on Flow…and anywhere you find Caribbean people, you can find carnival. And DAT is a thing of beauty, ah tell yuh. For all you who thinking that de parties and dem done, now that school is back in session, remember that Fall is a season full of fete!
It’s Caribbean Week in Toronto from September 26th to 30th in Toronto. Head over to Yonge-Dundas Square on Wednesday for a FREE live performance from Nookieman Jamesy P. For other details check out triple W dot Caribbean Week dot C.A.


Down in New Orleans, Cultural Diversity Day has returned to Marconi meadows park after a two year hiatus. The city was robbed of nearly all of it’s cultural celebrations when Hurricane Katrina caused thousands of residents to leave their homes behind. So this year, they ready to party it up again with the help of Montserrat’s Soca King Arrow.
Most of you know that Miami Carnival is in just 3 weeks. Right in line with our Thanksgiving weekend So, if school is really getting your goat. You might want to treat yourself to a hot weekend getaway. The 23rd annual Caribbean festival hits the road on October 7th, featuring Shadow, Iwer George, Biggie Irie, and many more.

From (Nurse) Karen (Etc)

California’s got next. They’re celebrating 10 years of Carnival in Los Angeles…and I bet most of you didn’t even know they had one at all. It’s called Caricabela. It celebrates the carnival cultures of both the English and Spanish speaking Caribbean. Not a bad mix at all! So that’s what’s up on October 14th.
So, I went easy on Machel all Summer. I figured if the Trinidad government and them wanted to leave him be for his hectic performance season, then who am I to do any different. But it’s Autumn now, and it’s time to get serious. Trinidad’s rat pack went back to Court this week to get on with the proceedings in regards to assault of two men outside of Zen night club in Port of Spain. They all showed up Machel, Benjai, Kernal and Zan….all in long sleeves looking like they going church. As is turns out, they had no reason to worry. The trial has been delayed once again. This time because Jerron Joseph, the newly appointed State attorney doesn’t think he’s quite ready to DO HIS JOB. He says, he only received the case on Monday…so the court has adjourned the proceedings until October 12th, when the y will begin to discuss a start date for the trial.
Now, I wasn’t there. So I can’t say who DO what…but I can say Machel is one LUCKY son of a gun. And I suspect that news just bought him a few more performance dates. So Autumn is looking like the real Wining Season across the board.
I’m nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s Rounds. If you’re still looking for a good wine right here in Toronto, don’t forget to get your tickets to Soca or Die 7. on November 3rd.!
Please text any comments to 9-3-5-9-3-5. Now, back to de doctor

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The Rounds - June 17, 2007

June 17, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds for Father’s Day 2007.
It’s another hot weekend in the city. And when it’s hot, you have to find creative ways to keep that temperature in check. For some, that meant strolling down to Barbados on the water to see Rupee. While others preferred to chill out in they short pants on the Palazzo Patio for another soapy foam fete. No matter how allyuh stay cool…is good once you doing it with soca.
The coolest thing out of St. LUCIA right now is the Lehgo Me Riddim. This infectious production is the work of a guy named ACE who managed to get Bunji, Faye Ann, Qpid, Skinny Fabulous and Zoelah each to give it their own special touch. My personal favourite is a track called “Presha Boom” by St. Lucia’s own Ricky T. And is not just me who feel de chune wikkked, yah kna. EVEN though Lucian carnival is just barely underway, VP records is already in talks with Ace and Ricky T about putting that bad boy on the next soca gold compilation. If it dey dey…guess who go be first in line to buy it?
In case you ARE looking for new music to buy, you might want to consider the new Scrappy Album. In 2005/2006 Scrappy earned himself the Montserrat Soca Monarch Crown, but I’m sure some of my Montserratian crew would remember him as a two-time JUNIOR CALYPSO monarch. Well he’s all grown up now, and he’s celebrating his 25th birthday with the release of his third album “Soca Is Life”, out on Faluma Digital in Europe…and through iTunes everywhere else.
Speaking of Europe…Trinidadian Fireman Bunji Garlin is packing his bags for a seven city European tour alongside Germany’s biggest soca sound system…The Soca Twins. From June 28th -- July 10th Bunji will be racking up the air miles from Germany to France, Sweden to Italy. And iWayne ( you know - the reggae artist who said soca is devil music)…he go be home ..wid he Mummah.
On a more serious note, a budding soca artist died tragically on Thursday night in Trinidad. Eric Cyril Stephenson otherwise known as Sphinx was gunned down at home in Petit Bourg. You may remember Sphinx from songs like “Wine on You” from 2004 and his 2005 duet with Kes called “Doh Buss No Gun”. The talk is…that Sphinx was known to local police for drug trafficking, and witnesses of the shooting death say that he seemed to know his killer.
On thing I know – dat kinda schupitness has got to stop! Just turn up de sweet soca music and stay cool. Don’t let a little sunshine give you a hot head!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5, now back to de Docta!

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The Rounds - December 17, 2006

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m nurse Karen and these are Doctor Jay’s rounds. When you listen to Caribbean music, it’s no secret that the most anticipated tradition of the holiday season (besides the music itself) is the food. There are so many special treats that only make an appearance once a year. You name it! If you like sweet - we’ve got it. Savoury - but of course! Drinks…well you hadda ask Doctor Jay about dah one. He would know better than me.

Every Caribbean country has its own special Christmas traditions…but they’re all lots of fun, so text me with your dinner invitations. Whichever day you’re cooking, I’m free!

Last week I mentioned that St. Kitts carnival is a Christmas tradition for THAT country. It’s well underway and new band D’Vybz International is beginning to make its mark. Well, they’re not schupid either. When carnival time coincides with Christmas, de bands and dem don’t stick when it comes to getting their CD’s out. After all it is the season for giving! They just launched their inaugural album “No Turning Back” which will be the sound track for masqueraders jumping up with Inferno.

My people in Montserrat are in the swing of carnival too. And Scrappy is back to defend last year’s Soca Monarch Crown. His new CD “Dreams are Reality” comes out tomorrow….but the first track Carnival S.O.S. is already lighting up the airwaves.

All this talk about CDs has me realizing, if I just buy original soca music, it wouldn’t take much to cross a few more names off my Christmas list…So I’m thinking my mommy would enjoy a jamoo cd featuring Religious Soca songs like “Christmas with the Blackmans” performed by Isaac Blackman and his siblings.

Meh tanty Hetty is a romantic, so I would get her “Christmas With You” by H20 Flow. And I think meh friend Keston would enjoy a Ma$tamind Christmas, since he grew up in Siparia near the producer Shawn Noel - and he love he black and sorrel…and parang more than anybody else!

Traditionally parang songs are sung in Spanish and addresses religious themes like the birth of Christ. The music has changed over time and a politician for Barataria/San Juan doesn’t like where it’s going. In Trinidad parliament on Thursday, Dr. Fuad Khan called for a ban on a Christmas hit by Damian Joseph, stating that some of its lyrics may be derogatory to persons of Chinese origin. The artist whole heartedly disagrees. Since last year, he has performed the tune for the Chinese Association with no complaints whatsoever and he even won 2006 Soca Parang OF THE YEAR for the composition at the COTT awards. All that being said, I still ent go tell you de name of de song. Because Nurse Karen may be many things, but I am certainly not offensive.
If you don’t like soca, suk you ma-whey!!!….Those are not my words, that is the work of Ian Alvarez aka Bunji Garlin…a similarly non-offensive soca icon who will be starting a new tradition in February 2007. On Carnival Saturday in Trinidad, from now on Bunji will be hosting his own annual concert.

So, there’s a new event to check out, if you’re heading down for the big show…so you better get used to it. You may find your self breaking with all kinds of TnT carnival tradition for 2007. It seems that the construction happening at Queen’s Park Savannah will really change the face of Carnival this go round. The Panorama finals will take place down South in San Fernando instead of in Port of Spain. Nothern Steel bands are upset with the decision, BUT I FIGURE it’s nice that the pannists down South could finally hold on to THEIR gas money for a change.

I’m nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s Rounds. Please send your comments to soca at Flow 935 dot com. Now back to de docta!

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The Prognosis - December 25, 2005

Soca Prognosis
Karen Richardson
December 25, 2005
407

Good Evening Soca lovers and Merry Christmas too…
It’s your resident Nurse, Karen, bringing you your weekly PROGNOSIS….
It’s finally here! Christmas Day is upon us, and everybody getting nothing - but de best. People always telling me they’re sorry I have to work, but I don’t mind it at all. My rounds are just about done for the day, but I may have to get my stomach pumped, so I could eat a little more.

This just in: The very best ginger beer was tasted in Brampton only minutes ago. I think I better verify my sources.

St. Kitts and Nevis is still blazing with soca. Calypso finals are around the corner and they’ve whiddled the list of competitors down to seven. Christmas Eve marked the one of the hottest events on the carnival calendar: Party Monarch competition. The best local soca acts took to the stage. The women will have their moment in the sun on Tuesday night for the Female Calypso Bacchanal .

In Montserrat, they just named a new soca monarch too. But between carol singing and feting for festival, those people too busy to tell me who. Must be nice….

They’re not the only ones….While you’re at home fighting up for the last bowl of souse, the town of Bridgeport Connecticut is making plans to add a dash of Caribbean spice to their annual first night celebrations. Local pan men, the Royalty Steel Pan Band will be ringing in the new year in a program that includes reggae, Latin rock, jazz and Irish folk music. I doh so sure how to dance all ah dat…but a little pan never hurt anybody.

Everybody knows Marcia Miranda and Scrunter want a piece of pork for de Christmas. And by now, is more than one piece they done eat. But many west Indians, particulary Seventh Day Adventists and Muslims will not be boiling down a salty ham today. Choice Cuts butcher shop in Chaguanas, Trinidad made sure to stock up on pork-free alternatives this weekend. Whether its Wild meat, roast duck, curried duck, lamb chops, curried goat, baked chicken, stewed beef, stewed chicken…it’s a blessing to celebrate the holidays with the soca parang pumping and your belly full. As for me…I still looking for de ham. Merry Christmas!

I’m Nurse Karen, and that’s your weekly prognosis.

Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM. Ah gone.
Now back to de Docta

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The Prognosis - December 18, 2005

Soca Prognosis
Karen Richardson
December 18, 2005
385

Good Evening Soca lovers…
It’s your resident Nurse, Karen bringing you your weekly PROGNOSIS….
One week to go until Christmas…and I just can’t wait. I love everything about it. Food, fun and family. And the music of course!!

Our friends in St. Kitts, Monserrat and St. Croix are now in the middle of vibrant carnival celebrations. St. Vincent’s streets are bumping as they count down nine mornings. The parangderos are spreading that festive Spanish vibe all over T&T. Here…we’re buried under mounds of snow and credit card bills….but that’s OK. It’s still the best time of the year.
Following four days of eliminations, it was announced Thursday that 16 out of 53 kittitian calypsonians have advanced to the semi-final round of the 2005/2006 calypso monarch competition. It remains to be seen if defending champion Socrates will walk away with the title for his fifth time. The man is good, but the question is…how does he measure up against veteran favourite Ellie Matt. Matt has been absent from calypso competitions for several years, but the ten time calypso king of St. Kitts and Nevis is back for 2005. The final battle goes down December 30th.

Every week, I bring you the latest carnival news…and it’s always the same thing. King dis. King dat… Even here at soca therapy I have to play second fiddle to De Prince. But that’s OK. So, what about the queens? Caribbean carnivals always devote much time and attention to Queen Shows. (Errr…beauty pageants) And if you don’t already know, that is serious business in the West Indies. Antigua Carnival does not jump off until July, buy a bevy of beauties are working the make the cut right now. The Antigua and Barbuda carnival development committee starting taking applications for the hotly contested Queen of Carnival pageant yesterday. Ladies between 18 and 25 looking to represent their island paradise to the fullest have just two weeks to register.

Lastly, If you’ve been asking Santa for a ticket to Trinidad for Christmas, don’t fret if Santa saves some money and books it for January instead of late February for the parade of the bands. Good news is the calypso tents will be opening their doors on January 27th…and that just might be your best bet to witness the humour, politics and creativity that makes carnival so wonderful. So, just be smart….take the early ticket…then call your boss from Maracas beach and tell him you’re real sick. Doh worree….I go be sick too.
I’m Nurse Karen, And that’s your weekly prognosis

Send your comments to Soca at FLOW 935 DOT COM
Now back to de Docta

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The Prognosis - December 4, 2005

Soca Prognosis
Karen Richardson
December 4, 2005
Good Evening Soca lovers.
This is Karen the resident nurse here with your weekly prognosis.

First of all we at Soca Therapy would like to send our congratulations the Mighty King Cosmos for his win at the 7th annual Canadian Urban Music Awards. Cosmos took home the coveted CUMA for “best soca recording”. His single “Island Girl” helped him secured his spot as a favorite with the Urban Music Association. I caught a glimpse of the King Tuesday night decked out in black and dripping with the bling from head to toe. You go King Cosmos! Keep the roots of soca showmanship alive.

So congrats are in order for our very own Doctor Jay. Yet again, the big man in the business was nominated for a CUMA, but ah sorry to say he’ll have to pick up his trophy next year. Could be worse though…Flow’s own Starting from Scratch walked home with the title of DJ of the Year. And that’s cool with me. I mean, he cool. I can’t say I know too many other French-Canadian kids will a healthy helping of soca music in their mixmaster repertoire.


So it’s December now. And after waiting whole year to hear your island called out in the fetes. I have some great news for all my St. Kitts, Montserrat and St. Croix massive. I feel your pain. And I have a little sumthin’ that go make you feel betta. Big up your chests and large up all you small island people because it is Carnival time in your land. I’ll be bringing you the latest.
Cruzian Festival 2005 began yesterday and Montserrat Festival kicks off Wednesday with a variety concert. It will really get HOT HOT HOT over the weekend with a street jam and the official opening in Festival Village.

Speaking of HOT HOT HOT... Montserratian soca icon Arrow is helping his country bring back the tourist money after the volcano erupted a few years ago. Arrow spent last week promoting Monserrat in London England at the World Travel Market trade show.

Ok Trini posse, patience is a virtue….last week Dr. Jay told you about the passing of veteran pan arranger Clive Bradley. A wake was held for this musical genius at the Desperadoes pan theatre early last week before the funeral was held Friday at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Port-of-Spain.
I’m Nurse Karen…
Now back to de Docta

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