Booster Shot: Shurwayne Winchester cancels annual Children's Show in Tobago

Carnival is full of surprises and yester it was announced that Shurwayne won't be entertaining his usual crowd of youngsters in Tobago once Carnival is over.

Check out the info below:



Posted by Sade-Lea Smith
PRO, Shurwayne Winchester and Y.O.U
February 10 at 3:31pm

Shurwayne Winchester and YOU, having enjoyed a carnival 2010 season that has proven quite competitive and unpredictable, now looks forward to what lies beyond Carnival Tuesday. Regrettably, the annual children’s show for the youngsters of Shurwayne’s birthplace, Tobago, will not be held this year, due to time constraints, the short season that has seen the artiste and his one year old band make appearances at almost every major event in carnival, among other restrictions. The Children’s Show has in recent years, been hosted with the children of Tobago and their parents in mind and this year’s cancellation was indeed a harsh reality that Winchester simply had to face.

Nevertheless, with a promisary statement, the double road march winner says he will ensure that next year’s celebration is bigger and better than ever before, adding that Tobago will see him, in the weeks ahead when he travels for a bit of rest and family time.

With merely a few days away from the Groovy Soca Monarch on Fantastic Friday, Shurwayne’s now in competition mode as he prepares to give his supporters a true treat and a few surprises too!
For now though, Shurwayne extends his sincerest apologies and regrets to the kids of Tobago and sends love from Trinidad.

For more on Shurwayne and YOU, log on to www.shurwaynewinchester.com.

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: Welcome Destra to Motherhood!

Originally aired on Flow 93.5 FM "Soca Therapy" with Dr. Jay de Soca Prince (Sunday, January 17, 2010)

In this edition:

-  Chutney artists donate to Haiti (Trinidad and Tobago)

-  Nicole David to star in "Island Secrets" TV show (St. Lucia)

-  Shaunelle McKenzie's is expecting (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)

-  Destra welcomes her baby girl (Trinidad and Tobago)

-  Fire Empress to defend her title at Tobago Soca Monarch (Trinidad and Tobago)

- 12 advance to Mashramani Soca Monarch (Guyana)

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Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. It’s five days after the tragic earthquake in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The fiercely proud republic is scrambling to put the pieces back together as international aid begins to trickle in, and I just wanted to take a moment to make my humble appeal to you the listeners to help in any way you can. To start, why not follow the example of Trinidad’s Chutney Artists who together have already donated $20,000 from the organizers of Chutney Soca Monarch to the Haiti Disaster fund set up by the T&T Red Cross Society. They even set up an account at the Republic Bank for those wishing to donate. More than $100,000 dollars was raised on the first day of collections. Great to see Caribbean people assisting their brothers and sisters in need. Please join in and do the same.

Down in St. Lucia the island is abuzz over a new television drama series called Island Secrets. The small screen soap opera is written by soca artist Jose Torso and stars former Road March queen, Nicole David as a wealthy house wife that secretly manages the mythical island’s illegal drug trade.

Nurse Karen and Nicole David in St. Lucia (2009)

            I’ve got an island secret to share, that takes place on St. Vincent. HS Phaktor lead vocalist, Shaunelle McKenzie is celebrating a birthday today. This birthday is particularly special as it’s the last one she will celebrate before she becomes a mother in a few short weeks. For those who didn’t know, the veteran artist who performs alongside Bomani is pregnant with her first child.

Speaking of babies!!! A certain somebody isn’t pregnant anymore!!! Destra Garcia gave birth to a bouncing bay girl on Thursday, January 14th in Trinidad on day before her scheduled due date. Not sure of the correct pronunciation, but the baby’s name is Xaiya (spelled, X-A-I-Y-A). Mommy and daughter are both doing fine!

Destra

       In the meantime Destra’s band is back to work this weekend, backing Fire Empress has she defends her Soca Monarch Title tonight in Tobago. The Ricky Bobby band made the trip to Trinidad’s sister isle yesterday to lend their support to Fire Empress’s performance of “De Session Done”.

It’s Carnival time in Guyana too. 12 artists just found out that they have been selected to proceed to the Semi Finals of Mashramani Soca Monarch on January 30th. Three of the 12 do not live in Guyana. Stay to tuned to Dr. Jay’s Rounds and the Nurse Karen Etc blog for more.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. To get the latest in soca news, check out Nurse dash Karen dot com, or follow me, Nurse Karen on Twitter. Now, back to de Docta!

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Booster Shot: Fire Empress is 2010 Tobago Soca Monarch

Congratulations goes out to Lornette the Fire Empress on her Soca Monarch win last night in Tobago. She performed ahead of all other performers in the #1 position and still managed to set the bar just beyond the others' reach. For her performance of "De Session Done", she called on the support of the Ricky Bobby Band from Trinidad to give her song an extra boost.  The members of which are a collection of musicians who perform in Destra's band.

Fire Empress and Nurse Karen in St. Vincent (2008)

In the end, it all paid off.

Look out for the Fire Empress at the International Soca Monarch Finals in February!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

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The Rounds: Scrappy's new album, Bitts and the roadkill, etc

Originally aired on Soca Therapy on Flow 93.5 FM in Toronto (Sunday, November 22, 2009)

In this edition:
- Tobago will have a rep at International Soca Monarch (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Still no venue for ISM (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Caribana dates set (Canada)
- Scrappy releases compilation album (Montserrat)
- Lil Bitts' and the dead dog (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Happy Birthday Saucy Wow and Boy Boy (Trinidad and Tobago)



Good evening soca lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds!

Great news hit the beautiful shores of Tobago last weekend. The soca artists based there recently found out that the winner of their local Soca Monarch competition on January 17th will get an automatic bypass to the finals of the International Soca Monarch competition in Trinidad. Tobago joins the ranks of islands such as Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent who all enjoy seeded positions for their reigning monarchs. That means one less spot is open for Trinidad-based artists in the finals.

But all this soca monarch talk is probably still premature, considering the Caribbean Prestige Foundation still has not settled on a suitable venue for the 2K10 competition.

While we’re on the topic of Soca royalty, the 2005-2006 Montserrat Soca Monarch, Scrappy recently released a new album just in time for his island’s upcoming carnival season. Welcome to Montserrat Volumes 1 and 2 is a two disc compilation album showcasing STRAT’s top talents in both soca and reggae. But if you’re a big Scrappy Fan, he’s got a solo album set to drop any day now. It’s called “The Caribbean Dream”. Be sure to check it out.

Fast forward to Toronto Carnival 2010. Plans for next year’s Caribana are already beginning to take shape. Festival dates have been set for July 13 through August 1. Tell your family and friends!
Here’s something else you might want to tell your friends. Be sure to lock up your pets around Lil Bitts. I know I’m going to get in trouble for reporting this one. But today the artiste who is ironically promoting a single called “Careful” rolled over a dog with a car in Trinidad around 7 o’clock this morning. Lemme vouch for the girl and tell you, the accident was completely unintentional. After all, Miss Lady is barely big enough to hurt a fly let alone a dog. But sadly, the pooch did not make it.

As we approach the end of November, there’s no shortage of birthdays to celebrate. Denise “Saucy Wow” Belfon turns 41 on the 23rd, and on Tuesday, the 24th Machel Montano turns 35. Happy Birthday Soca Babies...we love you!

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more information on any of the things I mentioned tonight, please visit me online at triple w dot nurse dash Karen dot com, or follow all the news, commentary and my personal daily shenanigans on Twitter dot com slash nurse Karen. Now, back to de Docta.

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Booster Shot: 2010 Tobago Soca Monarch goes to International Final

Great news for the soca community in Tobago for 2010!  The Caribbean Prestige Foundation has made the decision to secure a seeded spot in the International Soca Monarch (Power) Finals for the winner of Tobago Soca Monarch.  Tobago is the latest island territory to be offered a guaranteed spot on Fantastic Friday.

Tobago Soca Monarch 2010 is set for January 17.  The winner that night will compete against successful competitors from the Trinidad Soca Monarch Semifinals and the reigning 2009 Soca/Party Monarchs from;

Antigua - Tian Winter - "Soca Rebels"
Barbados - TC - "Hot Sun and Riddum"
Grenada - Mr Killa - "Swing It Away"
St. Lucia - Ricky T - "Like a Jumbie"
St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Skinny Fabulous - "Leggo De Beast"

I had a brief chat with reigning Tobago Soca Monach Fire Empress today.  Naturally, she's very excited about this new opportunity! Congratulations Tobago!

Love and Soca,

Nurse Karen

 Fire Empress            

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Booster Shot: Fire Empress is 2009 Tobago Soca Monarch

Did you know that Tobago has its own Soca Monarch Competition?  I'm glad to hear it, because my girl Lornette Nedd aka Fire Empress is Tobago's new Soca Monarch Queen!  She gave a memorable performance of Mamalaya, backed by her band Fire Fusion

Nurse Karen and Fire Empress , back stage at St. Vincent Soca Monarch Semi-Finals last July

I believe the Tobago event took place on Valentine's Night.  So, I included a video of her performance before a crowd who is head over heels for her.  Fire Empress is a dynamic performer, with a kick @$$ wardrobe.  She's also a radio personality on the new Bago Bashment radio station.  This won't be the last you hear of her!

  You can count on me to give you more details on the competition as I get them!

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The Rounds - November 25, 2007

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds.
There will be a grande parade in Tobago this Friday to usher in the 2008 carnival season. With 21 mas bands registered for the main event in that island, organizers are expecting this to be one of the best years yet.
If it’s gonna be the best across the board, there hah be some planned improvements right? Well in Trinidad, the preliminary round of the national schools soca monarch competition was held yesterday in Port of Spain. Soca in the School Bag 9 , as they call it, now has two separate categories for primary and secondary school students…so finally, some the small children have a fair shot at winning the prizes.
Here in Toronto, we recently fell victim to a cruel reality of Winter: SNOW! Well, today IS the 25th November , 2007…and that means just thirty more sleeps until Chist-mus Day. If that don’t put the fear of God in you, then let ME remind you that a true soca Christmas is not complete without Black Cake and Sorrel, Punch a crème and de Ham.. ...and the king of Soca Parang hesself….None other than Scrrrunter.
He’s in town tonight for a fast growing Toronto Holiday Tradition, the Big People Parang Show and Dance. The action is is at Ella’s Banquet Hall, and the show begins in just a few minutes. So bundle up and start de car.
If any of you out there need help getting your CREATIVE wheels turning, you can borrow a page out the book of Shawn Mastamind Noel. HE and Patch looked no further than Facebook to get the idea for their latest chune. “De Tail Gone” was inspired by a facebook group called “Save a Horse”. Yuh catch it yet? It’s dedicated to the thousands of women out there exaggerating dey heads with weave.
Seems like everyone’s full of New Ideas! Allyuh remember Peter C. Lewis? He used to share the stage with Machel Montano in de big band, Xtatik. Over the last few weeks, Dr. Jay has been treating your ears to his new song OVER AND OVER. Well I liked the song so much, I had to reach out and gih de man a virtual handshake. It’s been YEARS since Peter released a track, Afterall…de man real busy as CEO of Trinidad’s - Synergy TV station. Ever the business man, Lewis hit me back in record time to let me know that it doesn’t stop there. He’s got a brand new band, and your nurse will be the first to tell you all about it in the weeks to come.
I’M nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Please text your comments to 9-35-9-3-5. And let me be the first to say Season’s Greetings. Now, back to de Docta!

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