The Rounds: Teddyson John sings with the greats at St. Lucia Jazz

In this edition:

• Soca/Calypso honoured at the 2009 IRAWMA's
• Callaloo and Toronto Revellers launch their 2009 Caribana Presentations
• Teddyson John sings with blues greats at St. Lucia Jazz
• Grenadian calypsonian charged with rape
• Sheldon Benjamin aka Shel Shok in hospital with cancer

Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. First, lemme hit you with a big fat Happy Mother’s Day!

Last week, I mentioned that the International Reggae and World Music Awards were taking place in NY during soca therapy. Well, the results are in, so I have to big up one awesome Caribbean mom for her success. Congrats goes out to Alison Hinds for winning the award for Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer.

A handful of other soca related awards were bestowed as well. Machel Montano HD took Most Outstanding Stage Personality and Most Outstanding Show Band. Trinidad’s Calypso Rose won Most Consistent Entertainer. Antigua’s King Short shirt was inducted into the IRAWMA Hall of Fame. the Mighty Sparrow was honoured with the Master of the Caribbean Award, and Vincentian record mogul, Granville Straker received the Martin’s International/Inter-Culture Award of Honor.

Grabbed this shot of Calypso Rose for Toronto-Lime at the 2007 Soca Awards in NY

Back on the home front, Callaloo and Toronto Revellers now join the ranks of mas bands who have unleashed their 2009 themes on the city of Toronto. Marlon Singh’s Callaloo will be parading down the lakeshore with an India and Africa theme called :The Ganges Meets the Nile. All 12 hundred of Jamaal Magloire’s Toronto Revellers will be band # 6 presenting Brasil: Bacchanal in Rio.

With NBA Star and Toronto Reveller's Bandleader Jamaal MaGloire in Toronto, 2008

The big party in the West Indies right now is St. Lucia Jazz. Yesterday, Groovy soca artiste, Teddyson John gave crowds something to talk about when he took the stage to sing the blues. He performed on a bill that included music greats like George Duke, Jeffrey Osborne, and James Ingram.

Posing with Teddyson John in St. Lucia, 2008

Bad news out of Grenada, I mean really bad news. Maybe you’ve heard. The 2008 National Calypso Monarch, 24 year old Biko Lewis has been charged with the rape of a 15 year old girl. It was reported that the victim was on her way to church when the offended offered her a ride. Well, as you might guess, she never made it to her intended destination. Instead she was brought to a secluded location where the act was commited. Now word on sentencing yet, but I personally hope he pays big time.

On a rather somber note, Trinidadian soca producer, Sheldon Benjamin once known as Shel Shok was rushed to the hospital on Thursday due to complications resulting from his fight with Lymph Node Cancer. The 39 year old sample technician who has toured extensively with Destra and Machel Montano over the years has been privately battling the disease since November. But a mild heart attack and breathing difficulties brought his quiet struggle to the public sphere. We at soca therapy offer our sincerest thoughts and prayers out to Sheldon for a speedy and full recovery.

I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more information on any of the items mentioned this evening, check out the Nurse Karen Etc blog at triple w dot nurse dash Karen dot com.

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Booster Shot: Grenada Calypso Monarch Charged with Rape

Grenada's reigning National Calypso Monarch, 24 year-old Biko Lewis has been charged with the rape of a 15 year-old school girl. 

The incident took place on April 17th.  Biko was arrested and held until April 24th.  He appeared before a Sauters Magistrate on  April 29th where he was formally cautioned and charged for the offence of rape. 

It was reported that the victim was on her way to church, when she agreed to accept a ride a ride from Lewis. However, she never arrived at her intended destination.  Instead, he allegedly drove her to a secluded area where the act was committed.

Biko was relatively unknown as a Calypsonian when his performance of "Ah Can't Understand" easily defeated all competition at the 2008 Calypso Monarch Finals.  The stakes were high as the 5-time Monarch and 2007 champion, Scholar (Findlay Jeffrey) announced his retirement two weeks before the competition, and did not defend his title. 

Lewis also appeared as a semi-finalist in the national soca monarch competition as early as 2007.

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