The Rounds: TriniBashment Turns 4!!!

Good Evening Soca Lovers,

I'm Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay's Rounds. As the weather begins to dip up here in Toronto, all eyes are on Miami for carnival. The action takes place next Sunday in South Florida with Road parades in both Miami and Broward. And YES, I WILL be there.

Naturally there's an air of excitement as the Caribbean community prepares for the annual festival. However, last week this excitement was met with grief when Miami Carnival CEO, Selman Lewis passed away on Monday. Lewis, just 60 at the time of his death was born in Trinidad and migrated to the US in 1969.

He's responsible for North America's third largest Caribbean carnival, after Caribana and Labor Day, and was ALSO the president of the China Mas group, a carnival band having won Miami's band-of-the-year title for 7 consecutive years. A public memorial was held for the community leader on Saturday. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Lewis' wife, and family.

You've heard me mention it before, the west Indian community in Florida means business when it comes to getting organized. Now, with a Federal election right around the corner, it's time to Soca D Vote once again. Soca D' Vote is a non-partisan community collective working to educate the Caribbean American community about their rights as voters. Next weekend representatives will be attending both carnivals with voter registration applications to make sure...we lil island people could have a big impact on Washington.

Other news this week....Soca 919, otherwise known as TriniBashment Radio celebrated its 4th anniversary last week. The world's first 24/7 soca music radio station was launched in Point Fortin Trinidad in 2004 by none other than De Boss...Mr. Iwer George.

Limin' with De Boss in Toronto, May 2008

And lastly, Bomani rang in a birthday on Tuesday with friends in New York...but if you're in New York two weeks from now, maybe you can celebrate with him at his annual Birthday Bash in Brooklyn. He'll be hanging out in the US for a month working on some projects.

Bomani celebrating his birthday in Toronto last year!

We also send out b-day wishes to some key players behind the scenes in the extended soca family: Natasha Andrews Noel of Mastamind Productions and Mark Cyrus of Master ROOM Studios.

The birthday girl herself, Business Manager of Mastamind Productions, Natasha Andrews-Noel in Trinidad (2008)

I'm Nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay's Rounds. Please send me your comments online at the Nurse Karen Etc Blog at mustardseeds.net, and get your weekly podcast of The Rounds at Soca Therapy dot com. Now back to de docta!

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The Rounds - April 4, 2007

Sunday, April 22, 2007
Karen L. Richardson

Good Evening Soca Lovers! I’m Nurse Karen and these are Dr. Jay’s Rounds. This evening, I’ve decided to exercise my civic duty to educate you all about democracy. As your nurse, is not just de health of your body I worry about. I does tink about all kind a ting...like when the sun is shining round and yellow like the middle of a juicy pineapple, you are FREE to go for a little drive and pump up soca therapy loud loud, so everybody would know how happy you are. And last week, it was your RIGHT to curse winter for overstaying it’s welcome. And yuh see what happen when you speak up? Talk done.
It seems like the seasons are changing for West Indies Cricketer Brian Lara too. After seventeen year’s as the team’s premier batsman, the record-breaking 37-year old has called it quits. I know it must be some of you who doh watch cricket. As fuh me, I stopping now. After seventeen years of drooling after that man, I think it’s time I pick up my bot-tom lip and get on with life.
Our very own Dr. Jay is also moving onward and UPWARD, just like we’ve come to expect. The nominations for the 2007 DJ Stylus Awards have just come out - and Dr. Jay has made the list in three categories: Toronto DJ of the Year, Radio Mix Show DJ of the Year, and of course, Soca DJ of de YEAR! Surf on in to S-T-Y-L-U-S GROUP dot C-A to vote.
Our West Indian friends south of the border have now officially begun their campaign to increase their own political participation. The grass roots initiative is called “Soca D Vote” and I first told you about it last year. On April 14th, Trini-born Artist and Producer Nigel Lewis put out a new Soca D’Vote riddim to give a lil spice to de group’s message. With a US presidential election on the horizon for 2008, I gotta big them up for making their sweet voices heard.
Down in Trinidad and Tobago, it’s speculated that the national elections will take place THIS year….and a stellar cast of Calypsonians are armed and ready to mobilize the voters. Randy Glasgow Productions is staging the National POLITICAL Calypso Monarch competition, and some of the republic’s best have signed on to compete. So look out Cro Cro, Cardinal, Pink Panther and Aloes….the Calypso King of the World just confirmed that he will be throwing his hat into the row. But forget the competition, I feel sorry for the political candidates. Nothing stings worse than a tongue lashing from a calypsonian. It’s not forgotten like yesterday’s news, eh. Dat is a cuss that could grow into a public flogging with thousands of voices beating you steady as they sing along to de chune, over and over. Now, DAT is democracy!
I’m nurse Karen and those were Dr. Jay’s Rounds. This week, text me your comments at 9-3-5-9-3-5. Your input is your impact. Now back to de docta!

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