The Rounds: Caribana Results are in!

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are your Caribana 2010 Rounds!

Can you believe it?  Caribana 2010 is upon us...and the parade of the bands went down yesterday on lakeshore boulevard.  I hit the road early Saturday morning with Dr. Jay’s Portrait of Innocence section in Saldenah Mas K Club’s  2010 presentation “ Portraits”.  Hundreds of revellers took to the streets in a display of vibrance, colour and energy, jumping, waving, palancing and wining all the way to victory.  Thats right soca massive.  With 446 points from the judges, Saldenah is your 2010 Band of the year!  In second with 426 points was mega band Carnival Nationz, and for a very close third, we have Toronto Revellers, this year featuring live performances from Machel Montano HD on the road.

It’s been a great year for Louis Saldenah. At Thursday night’s King and Queen show, his loyal revellers shook their mas into first position for Queen of the Bands, as well as male and female individual. Another special honour was being conferred the Ontario Science centre Innovation Costume Award for “Queen” Pat Horsham’s portrayal of D’Chandelier – A Portrait in Chrystal.  This stunning representation of an elegant light fixture was constructed mainly from Recycled materials.

Seven points shy of clean sweep, Dexter Seusahai of Tribal Knights shook up the competition winning 2010 King of the Bands for his portrayal of “Predator Returns”  Congratulations to all the mas makers, and players keeping the culture healthy and strong.

Now on Friday, Pan Alive was a veritable Battle Zone, with 12 bands trying their darnedest to dethrone Montreal’s Salah’s Steelband Academy from their 3 year domination of the pan arena.  As it turns out, much like the winners ... the two bands who tied for 3^rd place, namely Afropan and Panatics also chose to compete with their own arrangements of Anslem Douglas’ pan tune “Battle Zone”.  In second place, we have Golden Harps international with “Surrender”...and in first... hard luck Toronto.  Salah’s reigns supreme again.   

Before I go, gotta update you on the results out of Antigua.  Tian Winter is now a 2-time King.  He took the party monarch title last night in his home Island of Wadadli.  In the groovy category, local soca queen Claudette Peters took snatched the crown back from last year’s winner Tian.  Ricardo Drue also competed in Antigua last night, celebrating his birthday in heavy competition.

I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Caribana 2010 Rounds.  For more information on all you heard today, visit me online at www.nurse-karen.com or follow me "nursekaren" on twitter...

Read more...

Dr. Jay launches monthly initiative to fight hunger in Toronto

In a music genre born out of a cultural celebration of excess, it's not everyday a promoter caters to the 'have-nots'.  I've got to hand it to my bredren Dr. Jay for leading the way on a project that will literally help thousands of men, women and children here in Canada. Please support this if you can...

Love in soca,

Nurse Karen

Monday, May 17, 2010

Source: Mustard Seed Media

Dr. Jay launches monthly initiative to fight hunger in Toronto

TORONTO, May 17, 2010. - Popular Caribbean-Canadian DJ, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince is encouraging his young sassy partygoers to help fight poverty year round with the new club event, “BFF” – BEST FETE FOREVER.  Now in its third instalment, the monthly event in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank offers patrons live performances from international soca music artistes, for a reduced admission price when a minimum of five cans of food are donated upon entry.

The title “BFF” is a re-adaptation of the pop-culture abbreviation of 'Best Friends Forever'. The Dr. Jay version is ‘Best Fete Forever’, where fete is a pan-Caribbean term for party, as borrowed from the French Creole that informs the dialects of many islands of the Caribbean archipelago. “BFF” is about giving the best and getting the best.  Patrons party with a purpose, enjoying a night of high quality entertainment regularly giving back to their community.

 “My goal is to do this monthly for a year and raise over 4000 pounds of food for the Daily Bread Food Bank,” says Jay, who is best known to Torontonians as the high energy radio host, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince of Flow 93.5 FM’s Soca Therapy radio programme.  Since commencing “BFF” in March, a total of 938 lbs has been collected. Past events have featured LIL RICK, (2009 Barbados Music Award – Entertainer of the Decade), ALPHA (2009 St. Lucia Groovy Soca Monarch) and FARMER NAPPY and KERWIN DU BOIS (3^rd Place Winners, 2010 Trinidad Groovy Soca Monarch).

“I think it’s very commendable”, says PROBLEM CHILD (2008, 2009 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Road March King and June “BFF” featured performer. “As an artiste who gave my first road march earnings to charity myself, I totally concur with this. Props to Jay for this venture. It’s generally morally proper to assist others less fortunate with every opportunity that arises.  It’s plain and simple – the right thing to do. The others need to follow.”

According to the Daily Bread Food Bank’s 2009 Hunger Statistics, 49 per cent of its users were not born in Canada, much like the audience who patronizes Dr. Jay’s events.  Many food bank patrons are working poor, whose wages simply can not provide the necessities of life for their families.  After being touched by the images of devastation in the Caribbean nation of Haiti following the tragic earthquake in January 2010, Dr. Jay who is a first generation Canadian of mixed Trinidadian and Guyanese ancestry, decided to commit himself to doing something about hunger and poverty in Greater Toronto, where he calls home.

The public is invited to join in the spirit of giving at “BFF” May and June. 

Friday, May 21st

Featuring: PATRICE ROBERTS

plus special guest RICARDO DRUE

Venue: TROPICAL SUNSET - 1957 Kennedy Road, Scarborough

Music and hosting by: DR. JAY, LOUD MOUT CHINEY, EMAN, 2TOUCH, DIRTY DEZ, INFINITY SOUND CREW, DJ FLIP

Admission: $10 before 11 pm with 5 or more canned goods.

Friday, June 18^th

Featuring: PROBLEM CHILD
Venue: Tropical Sunset Lounge - 1957 Kennedy Road, Scarborough

Music and hosting by: Dr. JAY, LOUD MOUT CHINEY, EMAN, 2TOUCH, DIRTY DEZ, INFINITY SOUND CREW, DJ FLIP

Admission: $10 before 11 pm with 5 or more canned goods.

Read more...

The Rounds: Soca Monarch chief judge dies of heart stroke, etc...

The Rounds: Originally aired on Flow 93.5 FM's Soca Therapy with Dr. Jay De Soca Prince on Sunday, January 31, 2010

In this edition:
- RIP Roland Gordon (Trinidad)
- Results of Soca Monarch Semifinals (Trinidad)
- Ravi B is 2010 Chutney Soca Monarch (Trinidad)
- Dominica delays its soca monarch show by 3 months (Dominica)
- Ricardo Drue added to "The Orchestra" frontline (Trinidad)
- Happy Birthday Khiomal, Blood (Barbados), Maximus Dan (Trinidad)

Good Evening Soca Lovers, I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. Last Sunday's soca monarch semifinals in Trinidad left a lot of people hanging for nearly 4 days. People all over the Caribbean were waiting to find out which acts would eventually get to compete for top honours at 2010 International Soca Monarch Competition. As it turns out results were delayed due to the emergency hospitalization of Roland Gordon. He was the chief judge last week, and also happens to be father of Groovy Soca finalist "Chucky". Two days after critiquing the performances of more than 80 competitors, Gordon suffered a life threatening stroke, and on Thursday, sadly he died. Our deepest condolences go out to all who are affected by his sudden and very tragic passing.

The list of finalists can be found on my blog, but I'll mention a few highlights. As you may have heard, you won't see Bunji or Benjai on the Soca Monarch stage this year. They had no interest in competing this time around. However, you will see JW and Blaze performing their smash hit "Palance". Tallpree will be playing a wikked jab on Fantastic Friday, but fellow Gutter Riddim rider Patch whose song "Pipe" is a phenomenon unto itself...didn't make the final cut. Neither did Toronto's own Slammer Cutter...but we've got some representation in Kerwin Du Bois, who will be making an appearance in the Groovy Category

Nurse Karen and Tallpree in Miami (Oct 2009)

In other Monarch news. Chutney Soca Monarch went down last night, and I've got your top three! in third place was Moses Charles with "Indrani". Veteran Rikki Jai placed second with "barman", and the 2010 Chutney Soca Monarch is cutie pie Karma front man Ravi B with "Ah Drinka"

Let's see, what else when down this week? Oh yeah, well Dominica announced that they won't be staging a soca monarch show for carnival 2010, which is happening over the next few weeks. Instead the event has been moved to the end of May. Reigning soca Monarch Daddy Chess, however, will be competing in Trinidad on February 12th.

Peter C. Lewis in Miami (Oct 2010)

Ricardo Drue has just been named frontline vocalist for Peter C. Lewis' band, the Orchestra. Lewis is ready to pass on the torch...and believes this bright upcoming star is the man for the gig.

Belated greetings go out to Khiomal of the big band Krosyfyah. He rang in a birthday on Thursday (28th). Trinidad's ultimate fighter, Maximus Dan celebrated his earthstrong on Saturday, January 30th, while bajan soca veteran Andy "Blood" Armstrong will celebrate tomorrow on February 1st.

Birthday Boy Khiomal in Miami (October 2009)

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. for more info on all ah dat and more, check me out online at Nurse dash Karen dot com, or why not follow me...Nurse Karen on Twitter. Now, back to de Docta!

Read more...

Eye Unit: Ricardo Drue - Car Key

Check out the latest video from Ricardo Drue "Car Key" on the
"Patti Cake Riddim"
Produced by Peter Coppin, Monstapiece Inc (Barbados)



Very cute video...

Definitely an artist bringing some American-style hustle to the soca music game.

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

Read more...

Q & A : "Go Down" with Ricardo Drue

For any new artist, the biggest factor for getting people to respect you and believe in you is confidence. You have to know what you're able to achieve, and go for it full on with an unwavering resolve. That's exactly why when I met Ricardo Drue two months ago in Miami, my attitude changed from my usual curious indifference to a genuine fan. I had heard his tune "Pelt it Back" both here in Toronto and in Barbados over the summer. Took a lil small wine and never gave it much thought.

But now I know the guy, I've seen the talent and  I know how much he wants to succeed.  I've seen firsthand how hard he's working to achieve exactly that. With Trinidad Carnival 2K10 just around the corner, Ricardo Drue has already turned heads with "Nah Leaving" featuring Patrice Roberts, and a humorous double entendre called "Car Key". The repertoire is growing, which is a good thing considering he will be performing alongside the HD Family all season. Today he releases a new track called "Go Down". Chances are you haven't heard it yet...but I promise you, you most definitely will.

Well, you know me...I'm not one to wait for the hype to start. So, I interviewed him a couple weeks ago. Today, enjoy your exclusive opportunity to get to know this promising new artist....



Nurse Karen: Who is Ricardo Drue?

Ricardo Drue

I am a son of the Caribbean, bridging the cultural gap between the United States and the Caribbean with music and dance.

NK: I first heard about you as a member of a group called Crossovah. What's Crossovah, and what's your role in the group?

Ricardo Drue

I am 1/4 of the group Crossovah, there are two singers and two rappers. I am a vocalist. Crossovah came about in 2003 we all went to TimberCreek High Scool in Orlando. Through various competitions and different events we just finally realized we could each do more good if we were to come together and unite as opposed to stayin' as rivals. So Crossovah was formed.

NK: What are your hoping to achieve with your music career?

Ricardo Drue

My goals are to take care of my family, to take soca music to a global level, and for my music to reach people of all different races.

NK: What is your musical background?

Ricardo Drue

I was involved heavily in choirs and that started from a very young age, so that's where most of my musical training and backround came from. I taught myself how to play the piano, I have always had an ear for music.

NK: How would you describe your sound?

Ricardo Drue

Hmmm! If u were to take Boyz II Men, Usher, a little of Ne-Yo, and put them in a pot with Ronnie McIntosh, Machel Montano, Shaggy and Red Rat an boil it you would end up with my sound, lol.. wierd but that's

how I feel.

NK: When did you first get into the music business?

Ricardo Drue

I got into the music business 7 years ago you do the math, lol. How ever I have been singin since the age of 5 yrs old.

NK: I know you're fairly new to soca, but you've been working hard. Who are some of the people you've collaborated with?

Ricardo Drue

Dawg E Slaughter aka Mr. Slaughter on a song called. " Follow Me", Red Rat song called " Caribbean Girls", Patrice Roberts song called "Nah Leaving"

Producers: Jus Bus - "Caribbean Girl" and "Hey Lady" , Mastamind Productions - "Legacy of the West Indies" , Peter Coppin - "Test D Foundation" (Coconut Tree Riddim) and Car Key (Patti Cake Riddim), Dwaingerous - "Pelt it Back" and "Nah Leaving"

NK: It's obvious you've been hard at work this year. So, what do you do for fun?

Ricardo Drue:

I love to have fun when I have the time... Love to dance and write. Love the movies.. I love to play.. Just a fun guy...

NK: What makes you different?

Ricardo Drue

Ricardo Drue is not just another name or another person here today, gone tomorrow. I am a brand! I am an entertainer, and I hope soon tol be a household name.

If you want to know more....follow us both on twitter:


www.twitter.com/itsDrue
www.twitter.com/nursekaren

Read more...