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!

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Booster Shot: Soca Awards Announces 2009 Cast of Performers

Wanna know who will be bringing the entertainment at this year's Soca Awards in Turks and Caicos on October 30th?

The Soca Awards Organization still hasn't opened voting to the public, but they HAVE released the list of performers.  Ready?

Calypso Rose 

Denyse Plumber

Tizzy of El-A-kru

Skinny Fabulous

Ragga 

Winston "Gypsy" Peters 

Shyann Bailey 

Tallpree

Still no update on when the voting will begin, but you might as well check www.socaawards.com to check for yourself!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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Eye Unit: Tallpree at Toronto Grenada Day

Several years ago, you ask any non-Grenadian who was their favourite soca artist from Greenz, the answer was unanimous. TALLPREE! He's now considered to be veteran on his local scene with consistent offerings year after year. You don't have to look far to find out what he's been up to, however, the international DJ community hasn't been as kind about pushing his songs.

Maybe this is just my vibe this week, but I thought some of you may appreciate seeing how much GRENADIANS love and appreciate their own music star. He was in Toronto this past Saturday for a Grenada Day performance at Coronation Park.

Sure looked like a great time!

Part 1:


Part 2:


I feel like playing a wicked jab too!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds - August 19, 2007

Good evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s rounds. Grenada carnival wrapped up on Tuesday. And Congratulations are in order for Berbice. Traffic was THE chune heard most often on the road, beating out Ah Cyah Hear by Lava Man, and Tall Pree’s Trees.
Sadly, There won’t be any carnivals in the West Indies for a little while now, but THEY can’t expect the rest of us to stop de jumping. Yuh gah be real athletic to keep up with all the carnival action, so ah feel we ought to light a torch and send it rrround the world just like they do for the Olympics. So from Grenada, we passing we soca torch to Ottawa, then it’s going to Boston and Notting Hill, England. We blazing right back to Barrie, Ontario on September 1st. They will be hosting their first ever CaribFest just north of Toronto. Then dat torch lighting up the sky in Brooklyn a few days later.
I’ll be completing MY personal carnival marathon for the Summer in London and New York. Next Monday, you’ll find dis Vincy Vixen on the road with Poison UK before crossing the ocean for the 5th Annual International Soca Awards.
I f you haven’t cast a vote yet, now is the time to show your support for our very own reigning BEST INTERNATIONAL Soca DJ…Dr. Jay de Soca Prince. He’s looking to take the title again this year, but that can only happen if you take the time to VOTE. Head over to triple W dot Soca Awards dot com and show dem boys exactly why Toronto IS Soca City.
Well, if back to back wins isn’t reason enough to believe dat Dr. Jay is a soca Olympian, how about this? VP Records is bringing the 7th edition of D’Soca Zone to a record store near you. The two disc collection of soca favourites from the year gone by, features a bonus CD mixed and hosted by de docta he-self. So if you’ve been wondering where to LEGALLY buy songs like We Ready to Go, Hott Spot or Flames. Here’s your chance.
Speaking of great BAJAN chunes…A date has been set for the 2008 edition of the Barbados music awards. If you love the creativity and sweetness of Bajan music of EVERY genre, January 27th is THE night. The Sir Garfield Sobers Complex will come alive to celebrate the very best.
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Doctor Jay’s rounds. Please text your comments to 9-3-5-9-35. Now back to de Docta!

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The Rounds - August 12, 2007

August 12, 2007
Dr. Jay’s Rounds
Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Everytime time Caribana finish, I feel as though summer nearly done. Once my skin get bun up from playing mas, I figure it’s time to roll over and await the inevitable cold season. Well, not so on the sunny shores of the Caribbean. De hottest time of the year, NOW start!
Monday was the Grand Kadooment in Barbados, the final climax on the Crop Over calendar. Mas players were a little upset that the big parade was soaked with rain, but they made the most of it anyway. The soppy weather slowed down the pace from a jump to a chip, and Mr. Dale went home as road march king for Soka Junkie.
Over in Antigua Lord Satalyte made up for his second place finish at soca monarch...by leaving all competition in his dust come Carnival Tuesday. Antigua’s new road march is a chune called OK Papi. It’s one them songs nobody knows the right words for, but they love it bad!
For all the carnivals this year, we got to enjoy seeing a few new faces in the limelight. Seems like the people have spoken and it’s time for something new. Down at Spice mas they tried something new LAST week, when they held the first ever Village soca monarch competition. Ten soca artists were selected to represent their home towns, competing for soca supremacy. The inaugural Village Soca King is Lavaman with his smash hit Ah Cyah Hear. He beat out Tallpree’s “Trees” and Berbice with “Traffic”.
Gouyave posse, I hate to say it, but you weren’t placing in the village show, and the luck wasn’t THAT much better on the national stage. Mr. Killa has been officially dethroned of both his soca monarch titles. At the Groovy competition, Wednesday , Killa had to give his crown to last year’s Calypso King, Finley “Scholar” Jeffrey. Landing himself with a measely 8th place finish for his country-style soca tune, Rider.
This weekend, insult was added to injury as Killa had to settle for third place in Power Soca behind Luni Sparks and Eliectrify and Inspector.
Up here in Ontario, some of us continued to jump up at Hamilton Caribbean carnival yesterday. Glue guns and safety pins gave last week’s Caribana mas a last hurrah in the sunlight. If your feet, still have a little bounce left next weekend…head over to Ottawa for the grand finale of Caribe-Expo…The parade is on Saturday, just be sure and dry clean yuh costume!
I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5. Now back to de docta!

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