Power
4. Fay Ann Lyons
3. Bunji Garlin
2. Iwer George
1. Machel Montano HD
Groovy
4. Blaxx
3. Destra
2. Benjai
1. Kees
riginally aired on Flow 93.5 FM's Soca Therapy on Sunday, December 13, 2009.
In this edition:
- CP to perform at Miss Caribbean Teen Pageant (Antigua /St. Kitts)
- All-Rounder changes his name for 2010 (Trinidad)
- DJ Jester releases Soca Certified Smash Mixtape (Canada)
- Dr Jay collects canned food for charity (Canada)
- International premiere of "Fetting" by Skinny Fabulous ft. Machel Montano (Canada)
- Birthdays: The Great Zeee (St. Vincent) Teddyson John (St. Lucia)
- Drug rumour about Bunji Garlin (Trinidad)
- Buju Banton jailed on drug charges (USA/Jamaica
Originally aired on "Soca Therapy", Sunday, October 25th, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
Flow 93.5 FM in Toronto
In this edition:
- Celebrating Soca Scorpios - Toronto / International
- LA Carnival / Jacksonville Carnival - USA
- Machel at Antillia Carnival - USA
- Sunshine Awards held on Saturday - USA
- Notting Hill Carnival Doc Screened - UK
- Soca Mix in Fader - USA
- Creole Day - Dominica, St. Lucia, Haiti
- St. Vincent Independence - St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Good Evening Soca Lovers,
I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. Sometimes I feel like we’re speeding through the 2009 calendar. Coulda sworn it was Summer just the other day...and now...it’s Scorpio season. Soca or Die 10 goes down on Saturday celebrating the birthdays of Dr. Jay, Marxman and a few other soca scorpios including yours truly. But we’re not the only ones. This past week Trinidad’s Jadee, and St. Vincent’s Problem Child had birthdays too, and Lil Bitts has a birthday on Saturday.
If we’re not celebrating one thing, it’s another. West Indians in southern California enjoyed fetes and revelry last weekend for Los Angeles Carnival. This week, the fun moved back to Florida for Jacksonville Carnival yesterday.
Next on the docket is New York City’s Antillia Carnival which will launch in Manhattan on November 5th with a performance by Machel Montano HD. This year’s uber posh preview of Trinidad Carnival will be hosted by former miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam, and male supermodel Tyson Beckford.
Here in Canada, a well known Montreal club DJ was featured on a major music magazine’s website. Ghislain Poirier’s 25 minute soca mix was selected as this week’s Ghetto Palms feature on Fader dot com. Even through Poirier isn’t known exclusively for soca he has been touring extensively in 2009 promoting raising awareness of the genre and his Soca Sound System EP. We like that kinda thing!As you can tell, before I left for Miami, I anticipated long days and late nights. So I organized a few posts....just in case I didn't have the energy to give you daily updates. So here's a little footage from New York Carnival last month. Check out Fay-Ann partying on stage with about50% of the crowd. She's been pulling these kinda stunts all year! This party was tons of fun...although I dunno why Patrice wasn't a part of the HD set that night.
Large up DJ Spice and Dr. Jay for hosting a sweet lime by the DJ booth!
Love and Soca,
Nurse Karen
P.S. I've got some more "nurse's lounge" updates coming just now from Miami! Tings nice!!!!
andsomely for tickets that would probably cost less in any other city. I'm no artiste, but that kinda treatment would be enough to discourage me from my craft. If you can't even expect to profit from performances in front of huge crowds that earn US dollars, when can you expect to make a buck?
I dunno if any of you have heard about this new fete happening in Miami during Columbus Day weekend this year. But, there's a little something called Miami Vice, happening on Friday, October 9th on the actual set of Miami Vice, the Ice Palace.
I felt like personally throwing my love behind this event for what it represents. So before anyone is too quick to talk. This is not a paid advertisement. I wrote this because, I support the music, the music-makers, and anyone who believes in excellence.
In this Edition:
What you think? Shall we book a little vacation? I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s rounds. For more info on everything you’ve heard here, surf on to my blog at Nurse dash Karen dot com. Now, back to de Docta!Back in July, I passed through Barbados briefly.While I was there, Noize Poductions hosted their annual aibean Wete Fete. Throughout the evening I assisted Roamin TV with it covrage of the event by interviewing a handful of the stars in attendance.
Check out my lil 5 minutes with Bunji Garlin
BTW, Im still hanging out in NYC. I owe you some posts, so check me later!
Love and Soca,
Nurse Karen
In this edition:
Fay Ann was in fine form two weeks ago at Fire Fete in St. Vincent. Tonight the action moves to St. Lucia for Outrageous: Sexy In Black. Your girl Rochelle will be there to check out the vibes.
By now you've all heard that Bunji Garlin celebrated a big birthday this past Tuesday in Trinidad. The hottest ticket in town was the artiste's birthday bash held at La Casa De Ibiza.
On my arrival there were many cars around the club. When I arrived I received a band at the door which allowed me to have free premium drinks all night long. As I entered the venue was pure vibes from the get go. Bunji's manager was there, fellow artistes like: Ziggy Ranking, Squeazy Ranking, TC, Jason and Blaze (red 96.7), Dwayne Bravo (WI Cricketer), Cecile (Jamaican artiste), Benjai, Maximus Dan, Denise Belfon, his wife Fayann Lyons, Shal Mashall, Kernal Roberts, KMC, Benjai, Nadia Batson, Ms. Alysha, Mista Vybe, Super Blue and of course yours truly Lil Bitts. Ziggy, Cecile and Super Blue sang him their versions of Happy Birthday. Then the vibes was taken to another level when Super Blue began to perform. He did his trade mark move of manuvering the mic quickly from hand to hand and that sent the crowd into a frenzy. From there...he did his soca version to Billie Jean which went down great and had people calling for more and he started singing all of his oldies one after the other and totally destroyed the place.
Other artiste eventually ventured by freestyling Squeazy Ranking, Benjai, Ziggy and they also got Bunji into the action as well. Fayann was put on spot and she gave a small freestyle herself of which she executed very well. There was vibes in the party from beginning to end everybody had a great time.
One more thing lol!!...Denise Belfon presented him with his birthday cake, and they once again sang Happy Birthday for him !
Today is pretty significant for Ian Alvarez, the one they call Black Spaniard. Bunji Garlin turns 30 today! I know the DC posse celebrated his b-day with him about two weeks ago, but this is the actual day.
I forgot to send my greetings in person when I interviewed Garlin for Roamin' TV at Caribbean Wet Fete in BIM two days ago. So, here's my chance. I felt really blessed to be backstage after Fire Fete in St. Vincent when Bunji Garlin pulled everyone together in a huddle to thank God for a successful show, and speak a word of blessing over all of us. So many people believe there is no room for God or faith in our music. Those people are so wrong.
So Ian, all the best on your special day! Continue to commit yourself to excellence in your craft...and more importantly, keep being a decent person. Seems like you've got things to celebrate at every turn.
So count those blessings! No doubt there will be many more.
Love and Soca,
Nurse Karen
By the way, I borrowed a little clip from Bunji's interview on Hot 97 SVG before Fire Fete (one of the wildest shows I've ever been to) The interviewer is the DJ / radio personality / artiste, Top Notch Swift. Thanks to Hitman for the clip. Check it out!
High off the music!!! That's how I'm feeling today. It's a wonder that I'm already chilling in the lobby with my laptop at 11 am. That party was maddddddddd!
This year, the Carnival Development Committee is trying something new. They've combined some of the official, more cultural carnival events with privately promoted fetes, so as to draw out bigger crowds. No surprise that Bunji Garlin and the Asylum
Band were coupled with National Panorama. So, Fire Fete is wey we a talk bout.
When I arrived in Victoria Park, the crowds were vibing off a performance from the Madd Symphony. Maddzart, D'Lanlord and Tamisha had the growing audience rocking and wining to some of their sweet ragga soca tunes for Vincy Mas 2009. I could already tell the party would be nice.
I found my way backstage, and checked out the stage set up. The bands came through in the early afternoon to soundcheck. The process went wayyyyyyyyy overtime, but eventually they got it right. But God loves a good practical joke now and then, eh. In the early evening high winds breezed right over the stage, and knocked over a set of equipment...which meant trouble and vexation for the stage crew and bands.
Still, the party came off without a hitch. By the time Hottsand got up to play, the audience was really in a party mood...myself included. Ran into Fitz, the marketing director for LIME in the VIP. He hooked me up with a light-up LIME champagne glass...which happens to be just as affective at holding Malibu and Pine! Sharlene Samuels, Syxx, and Johnny Rebel gave us a sweet combination of soca covers and their original tunes. Miss Sharlene has really grown as a performer. Her command of the crowd was exceptional for a vocalist whose name is still a mystery to most fete-goers. It is possible that after she drops "We Jamming" at Soca Monarch this Saturday all that could change.
Fire Empress had the ladies shadowing her hottness for "Fire Brigade". Then the HOTTSAND set sparked a full out blaze when Icon reminded St. Vincent they love him so much. Chune, chune and chune again from "Ready" on the 2005 Lava Slide Riddim , to "Get On"...his 2009 Soca Monarch contender. The energy was palpable!
Soca Dans inna de building. Jamesy P, Fireman and Luta. Let me be the first to say it. I LOVE Luta's Rumbo...and SHAKE! So did the crowd...all kinda new dance styles were brukkin out.
Yo!! Wassup everybody. You have no idea how busy this week was for the entire Nurse Karen Etc team. No worries! We still fixed you up with some great sights, sounds and info from the soca world! Here's one really worth checking out.
Dr. Jay de Soca Prince, Soca Therapy and KOS Entertainment Presents:
FAY-ANN LYONS, BUNJI GARLIN & BENJAI
IN THEIR FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING AN HISTORIC CARNIVAL SEASON
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009
KoolHaus - Toronto, ON
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO, ON (MUSTARD SEED MEDIA) – Trinidad and Tobago’s royal family of soca is gearing up to end their 3-month performance hiatus this week, thanks to Dr. Jay de Soca Prince, Soca Therapy and KOS Entertainment.
Fay-Ann Lyons shattered records and broke boundaries earlier this year when she became the first female in Trinidad and Tobago history to win the annual International Soca Monarch Competition (“Meet Superblue”). She walked away from the carnival season with a historic 4 competitive soca titles to her credit, winning; Groovy Soca Monarch (“Heavy T”), Peoples’ Choice and Road March as well – all while an incredible eight months pregnant!
Now the soca pioneer will dazzle audiences internationally for the first time since the birth of her daughter in Toronto, on Saturday, May 16 at the city’s premier concert venue, KoolHaus."To be honest with you, Toronto coming like a second home," says Fay-Ann. "Much love to New York, and everybody else, the Caribbean and everything, but when it come to Toronto, the kind of love you get from the people is something that you don’t get to get from even the few shows that you do in Trinidad and Tobago. So you must, must, must, make an effort to come and please your Toronto fans."
But she’s not coming alone. With her will be husband and four-time International Soca Monarch, Bunji Garlin whose own music career began in 1998 with title winning hits like, "Down in the Ghetto," "Warrior Cry," and "Blaze the Fire." Bunji Garlin has a cult like following internationally, for his signature ragga soca style, and dynamic freestyle performances.
The pair will be joined by Benjai and backed by Trinidad’s 15-piece soca band Asylum. Benjai himself was an active member of Bunji’s Godfather’s Asylum until 2005, when he left to pursue his solo career. There he made a huge impact on the soca world with the anthem, “By the Bar.” Benjai’s music pervaded Carnival 2009, placing third in the Groovy Soca Monarch competition with “Drunk Again.” Saturday’s event will be the first time the two have performed together internationally in four years.
Fans look forward to an exhilarating full length live music experience, featuring all the 2009 hits, plus countless favourites of years gone by. Then dance the night away to the sounds of DJs; Doors open at 10:00 p.m., 19+, Valid I.D. Required.
This exclusive post Trinidad Carnival, post-pregnancy debut is brought to you by Toronto’s premier soca music promoter, DJ and FLOW 93.5 FM on-air personality, Dr. Jay.
To purchase tickets - now available for only CAD $40 – log on to: http://www.ticketbreak.com/
In Toronto, tickets may be purchased in person from the following retail locations:
----DOWNTOWN/CENTRAL----
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For additional inquiries, you may also contact Dr. Jay at socaprince@gmail.com
Media Alert: Fay-Ann Lyons, Bunji Garlin and Benjai will be available for interviews.
Please send your requests to c_management@mac.com
Good Evening Soca Lovers, I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. This is a big news week. So listen to my every word, you don’t want to miss a very big announcement coming at the end. The drama continues after The Caribbean Prestige foundation staged their prize giving ceremony in Port of Spain last week Friday. Triple crown carnival star Fay Ann Lyons and her husband, Bunji Garlin, still haven’t receive prize money for their 1st and 2nd place finishes at the International Soca Monarch competition, held in February. Instead, they got all dressed up to bring home letters, saying the cash and prizes were withheld because they didn’t to sign contracts before the show. So it’s their fault, right? Wrong! According to management, the Soca couple didn’t get even get contracts to sign until after the competition... and when they did, the paperwork in question enforced a mandatory donation be made to the Foundation. That’s like buying a roti, and you not allowed to eat it unless you give back a piece of goat to de cook. Steups...I wouldn’t sign that either. So many artists are kinda vex with the situation, although some did sign the contracts to get 95% of their appearance fee. Others signed NADA, and still got paid the taxed amount. Can you say unprofessional? There is one soca monarch competitor, who’s actually smiling after news they received from the Caribbean Prestige Foundation. St. Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous got a call to tell him that he was awarded the honour of “Best Stage Presentation”, for his space age rendition of Head Bad (On the Spot). If you didn’t see it, Skinny filled the stage with an army of Jedi space men, dressed in white...and appeared in a flying saucer....well, it wasn't FLYING! But it WAS a pretty spaceship, hand built and welded mas, covered in shear silver fabric. The original concept earned him a trophy. Cash...mussee hard to come by these days. Benjai, who placed 3rd in the Groovy Soca Monarch turned 33 last Sunday. To celebrate, he partied it up at the 601 Liquid Lounge in San Fernando Trinidad. He even treated the audience with a special live performance. As I move away from all things to do with Soca Monarch, Antiguan artist Pince of Fame is making a temporary move away from Soca. He released dancehall track yesterday called “Sweet to the heart, bitter to the belly”. It’s on the Don Official label distributed by VP records. Prince of Fame rose to popularity last Summer with The Times Table song, for Antigua Carnival. But no fear, there will be soca music on his upcoming album, due out in June. Last but not least! Just 4 weeks and one day after the birth of Bunji and Fay Ann’s beautiful baby girl...I finally get to tell you what her name is. I spoke to the proud parents this morning, and got their blessing just for you. Ready? Announcing Syri Lyons Alvarez, that’s S-Y-R-I, Lyons is the middle name, and well...you get it. Congrats again to the new parents, hope allyuh get your money. I’m Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. For more soca news, check out the Nurse Karen Etc blog at Mustard Seeds dot net. And scoop up the podcast at Soca Therapy dot com slash the rounds. Help the campaign to Bring Soca to MySpace. Soca Now!
Crazy world isn't it? These days, music fans are fans of every detail of the lives of the people pumping out hits. In this case, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons are the stars of choice!
On February 28, 2008 Fay Ann ushered a healthy albeit, premature baby girl into this cold cruel world. She came along right after the most successful carnival season of her mommy's life.
She won International Soca Monarch, Groovy Soca Monarch and People's Choice...oh yeah, and a little contest they call Road March too.
Four days later a condition called pre-eclampsia threatened both Fay and baby's life,leading to a birth by c-section an entire month ahead of schedule. Yesterday marked 4 weeks since that day.
So, I phoned Fay-Ann and Ian (Bunji) this morning to get special permission to let you know what they've named their little bundle of joy.
Introducing:
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