The Rounds: The circle of life

(Originally aired on Sunday, June 14, 2008 on Flow 93.5 FM "Soca Therapy")

In this edition
- RIP Sheldon Benjamin (Trinidad and Tobago)
- Slaughter Arts car accident (St. Lucia)
- Skinny Fabulous and Problem Child endorse new Caribbean rum (St. Vincent)
- Destra addresses Junior Achievement Grads (Grenada)
- Happy Birthday Uncle Sam (USA)


Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Before I really get started, I have a rather tragic update on Trinidadian Music Producer, Sheldon ‘Shel Shok’ Benjamin. Sadly, on Tuesday afternoon Sheldon lost his seven month battle with non-hodgkins Lymphoma, a rare form of Cancer affecting the Lymph nodes. He was at home in Valsayn, under the care of his mother when he lost all signs of responsiveness. He was then rushed to Mount Hope Hospital and later pronounced dead, only 3 days before his 40th birthday. In his 17 year career, Sheldon released more than 300 songs. The entire Soca Therapy family wishes to extend our condolences to everyone who is feeling the loss.

Sheldon Benjamin

Four St. Lucian soca artists from the Slaughter Arts label had a close call as they were driving to the opening of Choissieul Carnival last Sunday night. Nigel Nicholas, Don Perry and Jose Torso survived the single vehicle accident with cuts and scrapes. While poor Kakle broke his arm in 2 places. None the less the fellas are in good spirits as they heal, thanks to all of their songs on the Campari Riddim getting steady air play in St. Lucia.

Down in St. Vincent, Skinny Fabulous and Problem Child are enjoying a happy carnival so far. This week the two bothers in soca picked up an endorsement deal with a brand new liquor brand called Silver Kiss Rum. Apparently, they will each represent their own unique flavor. Yum Yum.

Problem Child and Skinny Fabulous

Destra made a trip to Grenada recently. As usual, she and the band gave an amazing show at the Grenada Music festival, but she had another special gig all by herself that didn’t involve any singing at all. Instead, Destra gave the keynote address at the Junior Achievement Graduation held at St. George’s University for about 300 secondary school students. She encouraged the youth to stay in school and not to fear failure. Good advice for us all.

Destra and Nurse Karen

Special belated birthday greetings to out to Uncle Sam. Here in Toronto, his name is still more or less unknown. Maybe that’s because he’s still fairly new to the soca game, and he’s not even from the Caribbean. But in Florida audiences know him oh so well for being the white boy at reggae shows who can sing and talk patois just as well as the real deal artists. Check out his song, “It serves a purpose” on Fryktion and Kubiyashi’s sland Life Riddim.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more information on all the hot soca dish you heard here, check me out at Nurse dash Karen dot com or follow my tweets at Twitter.com/nursekaren. Now back to de Docta!

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Eye Unit: Happy Birthday Uncle Sam (Video)

If you're a soca junkie, checking out new music from here and there, you may know the name, Uncle Sam. He's dropped a little soca for Crop Over last year with Ally Hinds. He's got a big tune in Vincy for 2009, on the Island Life Riddim. And there's more...if you're such a big junkie, I'm sure you can find it!

Do you know who he is though? Uncle Sam aka Mr. Sam is a white boy from Florida, USA, who became known to local crowds for his ability to immitate jamaican reggae acts in song, speech and antics. He's a fixture at events in South Florida, so he's no stranger to West Indian music and culture.

Well today is Ryan Pfau's birthday. He's hoping that his wish will come true, for a successful soca summer!

Below, I grabbed ya this crazy clip of Uncle Sam amazing a reluctant crowd with his reggae stylings at last year's jerk festival. He can reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally sing!

Happy B-Day Uncle Same!!! Hope you get your wish...

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