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Gregory Issacs Dies @ 59.

From the AP
Gregory Isaacs, the Jamaican reggae singer whose smooth style earned him the nickname "Cool Ruler," has died. He was 59. Isaacs' manager, Copeland Forbes, said the singer died Monday at his London home. Isaacs had been diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago, but continued performing until weeks before his death.

His wife Linda said Isaacs was "well-loved by everyone, his fans and his family, and he worked really hard to make sure he delivered the music they loved and enjoyed." Born in a Kingston, Jamaica slum in 1951, Isaacs began recording in his teens, and went on to produce scores of albums .

With his sinuous baritone and romantic songs, Isaacs became a leading proponent of the mellow "Lovers Rock" style of reggae. He hit his stride in the mid-1970s with ballads like "Love is Overdue" and "All I Have Is Love."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Caribbean musical legend who I personally grew up listening to, dancing to, amd misunderstanding all the lyrics until I became an adult. Such simple lyrics, yet such a soulful delivery and a splendidly unique voice. I can't believe he's only 59, he seems much older, maybe he was much wiser. RIP....sing in Jah's choir!

some of favorites: Hush Darling


Stranger in Town:


Sad to know you're leaving:

Guyana Fest 2010: London

Guyana Fest 2010 in London, Sunday November 7th, 2010 at the Jazz Cafe.

First Born Bruk Up: Oh NO!

According to a "Guyanese Entertainment Website/Blog", First Born are no longer together as a group.

No further details about the actual split, but members Treyon Garrett is making a solo move and will be releasing an album soon.

Troy Azore is also going to be going solo.

I'm sad man, this was a good group and to see them break up without making it bigger is such a shame.

I am not afraid:



Irits:

Better World Better Place:


Junkie:


Headline:

Guyana Cultural Fest: Maryland

Happening this weekend July 10th, 2010 10am-10pm, Guyana Cultural Fest 1490 General's Highway, Crownsville, Maryland.

Artists straight from Guyana Timeka Marshall, FOJO, Shelly G, Brutal Jammers
Other artists: Terry Gajraj, The Angels Caribbean Band, Wataflo and more

Go if you can.

Gialiani: London Girl

Gialiani doing himself

Gialiani has been sort of low key these past few years, even if that was not his intention, but he is on the rap circuit again in search of a record deal and what he believes is some due recognition after “plugging away at it for so long”.

ialiani

He can be credited with being brave; coming out as a rap artiste ready to infiltrate a society which is familiar with foreign rap music and hardly pays attention to local voices trying to be heard. He shot a video and was throwing up dollars in the air, flashing a whole lot of bling and partying with women just like they do it in the videos we are used to seeing. But then he went silent.

“I was still working. I work every day developing my craft because this is my job, this is what I do,” Gialiani said in a recent interview. His tone was sharp, piercing to the point of a decibel [maybe an exaggeration], but he was probably going for convincing. Whatever it was, he was serious about how hard he has been working since his break-out release, “Rude Boi” in 2005.

He is not as obvious anymore, his appearance is like any other guy who is conscious about how he looks, but the baggy clothes and bling are gone; left for the music videos when he said he is allowed to be the rap artiste that he is. So what exactly has he been up to lately?

The rapper is back home for corporate support and to push his latest single, “London Girl”. Corporate support, he said, means somehow getting corporate Guyana to pump money into what he is doing and this is a stretch, but somehow he manages to talk them into sustaining that support. Gialiani has been funding his own projects and he released “London Girl” using his own money. The track is fresh, fun and an improved sound; it is Gialiani reloaded. It is set for release on UK radio stations soon; Gialiani had been in London for several months now pushing his music.

He said it is costly to work out of the UK, but he went because of the interest he said the people pay over there in rap music. “They are accepting of international artistes,” he said, noting that the US is a more competitive market and one he could take years, if ever to break into. Gialiani has been working non-stop since he went to London and according to him; it was hard because he had to build contacts and network starting without any connections.

He has not done any major work yet over there, but performed at a few open mic events and was also invited at a couple of campus jams. He said “London Girl” was done to connect with the London audience and allow them to have something to identify with. “The melody was really important, we found that first and then put lyrics to it, but the song is really strategic,” he noted. Gialiani is hoping the song lands him a solid fan base over there and eventually on an international scale.

Speaking about the song, he said, it is an R&B cross-over and more of “a chill song”. He described it as a laid-back track, which people would definitely want to listen to when it is on. Gialiani collaborated with UK artiste, Haley May, who is also trying to breakout.

Since he has been back there have been bookings, but he is yet to commit to any of it. He said the finances he would pick up from the performances are not “really important right now”, but he is also considering whether the performances can bring him and the song the kind of exposure he is looking for.

Gialiani has plans to collaborate with several artistes plugging away like him in the UK. He said that his tapes are out and are sitting on the desks of people who can make things happen. “I am waiting on them, they have to listen and if they like it that is my break,” he said. He is hoping to shoot a video for “London Girl”, but has to raise the funds to do it.

“I am very serious about my work now, back then I did a lot music that I never really studied that much. I’m a different artiste now, I have grown and I understand now how music can change people,” he added. His focus is now on making music which “relaxes people”. He said his mother could not relate to any of the material he had out previously, but “London Girl” is growing on her. He is largely satisfied with the song, but feels it could have been better; he feels it could have been better lyrically.

He could be really optimistic, but he feels a record deal could be a year away. Previously he had teamed up with a management team out of Barbados after promoting his music on the island but that did not work out. Anyone who is interested in sampling his music can contact him at dongialianigy@gmail.com for a free copy.

Still in his twenties he feels that he has some time, but “not a lot”. He said that he has been up to-date with his music and has been releasing samples on Face book, Twitter and YouTube. He said that those social networking sites have limitations based on where you are.

From Stabroek News

Adrian Dutchin, Jory and Peter Ram on O.M.G Remix

From Stabroek News:

New kid on the block Jory Hector is going international as he has now teamed up with Barbadian soca star Peter Ram and his Guyanese counterpart Adrian Dutchin to produce a racy piece.

Adrian Dutchin

Peter Ram

The original song, “OMG”, which was sung by Adrian, produced by musical-genius, Keyes and recorded at Kross Kolor Studios, has reportedly been blazing the airwaves. However, the official remix is anticipated to be a definite “chart-topper since these three amazing artistes have added their unique styles to this groovy dancehall mix”.

According to the release, Jory, who is vividly heard in the second verse articulating his appreciation for well-figured women, complements the chorus with eight bars of cunning rhymes, innuendos and slangs that are sure to thrill music lovers everywhere including his budding fan base.

Jory Hector

Video to Follow

Hi friends...

It's been a while....sorry for neglecting you.

2010 is the year of Jess X

‘I want this year to be my year’

Tiffny Rhodius

“I want my own identity in music. I really want this year to be my year,” says the talented Jessica Xavier as she prepares to release her latest single with at least three others to follow for the year.

The 24-year-old musician likes to think that her music officially started when she released her first single “Baby Don’t Cry” last year. However, she has been singing for as long as she can remember at benefit concerts and charity dos. Her venture into music started when she was noticed by Danley Major who she says is “pretty much responsible for pushing me in that direction. He and his wife are fantastic.” Major produced and tracked the single, “Baby Don’t Cry”, Xavier said.

The sultry ballad singer admitted that she was sceptical about doing her first single with reggae rhythm but was told by her producer she needed to make a sacrifice. So making the sacrifice, Jessica said, she researched reggae “to feel the music” before she started to work on the song.

Jessica added that she was attacked by nerves her first time recording in the studio. The self-professed perfectionist says that being in a closed box with persons looking on made her nervous but being nervous helped her with achieving her best since she puts “more effort” into what she is doing.

As for a possible video to accompany her first single, a self-conscious Jessica admits that she’s “scared of TV”. Citing harsh critics out there among the reasons, Jessica says, “I hate the attention. Ever since I started singing I rarely go out.” Instead she spends the time with her family and she travels.

Nonetheless, the songbird, noting that she is new in the professional music business, was adamant in pointing out that she was not Megan Vieira who she says she gets mistaken for quite a lot, “I’m not Megan Vieira! I’m Jessica Xavier. I get that too much. I want my own identity in music,” she reaffirmed.

This is likely, as she works towards the release of five songs for the year. The first release, another single is due out soon and the others later on in the year. “I really want this year to be my year,” she adds as she tells of her newest single to be released soon, “A Better Day”.

According to Jessica, “A Better Day” is more of an R&B style single which is being produced by Darrell Pugsley and recorded at Brutal Tracks. Jessica says she is working closely with the producer on the single which is being funded by her.

Meanwhile later in the year Jessica expects to release another single which is being produced in Barbados. The single she says is “R&B mixed with a Caribbean vibe”. Also in the making is a single which she is working on with Dwayne Stephens. All in all, Jessica says she is “looking at three or more tracks for this year”.

But this she note is all dependent on sponsorship. While she is funding her imminent release and she secured sponsorship for the other singles, Jessica stressed the importance of funding if an artist is to make it in the business.

“Music does not pay the bills unless you make it to that level,” she noted. And speaking of achieving a “level” in the music industry, she says all she wants is to be an influence. “The level I’m looking for is not red carpet I want to be an influence. I want to make enough money to give back.

“I like pushing young people,” she adds. Her noble aspirations she says stems from her not being pushed when she needed it even though she was told she was a great singer, she said. But she knows that her aspirations to help other singers can only go so far, the talented songbird says more needs to be done to develop the talents of young singers.

Investing in a music school she says is one way to develop young talent. Everything from vocal training to public speaking she says should be taught. But most importantly, Jessica stressed the importance of an education in the business, which she feels would make achieving one’s dreams more of a reality.

Further, the music industry is too young to be as competitive as it is, she said. Jessica feels there needs to be more collaboration and less competition among artists in the local industry.

Everyone has his/her own style of singing and everyone is trying to make it she notes but it does not require the “fighting” that is currently going on. Using an example, she says that the opening of her upcoming single “A Better Day” has the same line as Tamika Marshall’s “One More Day” single which she hopes does not draw any harsh comparisons or wrong conclusions.

Meanwhile, outside of singing, Jessica heads her own Project Management business. Being self employed, she points out, gives her the opportunity to work on her music on her time. She notes she has been in business before she was in singing but says she works better when music is incorporated in her life and that is how she knew she had to do music as well.

A family oriented person, Jessica likes travelling and spending time with her family who she says has taught her to appreciate the smaller things in life since those are the things that count. The third of 11 siblings, Jessica credits her mother “for doing a great job” and her dad for pushing her.

Her upbringing is why she believes that positive attracts positive and that is why she listens to music with substance and creates music with substance, “When I write I think about who listens to my songs and I think about the message. My songs might be corny and crappy,” she says but she knows that she produces music that will touch someone in a positive way.

From Stabroek News

Always hot Ms. Guyanese Whine

With talent flowing to her from both sides of the family, Soca singer Michelle ‘Big Red’ King has lots of steam to take her through the busy future she’s planning, which includes thoughts of returning her voice to the church.

Michelle 'Big Red' King

Currently, the plus-size beauty is working on a video for the song “Big Daddy”. The music video, she told The Scene recently, is a remix of the song and she will be working along with Jamaican artiste Empress Lyrics (Denise Williams) to produce it.

Michelle started singing at the age of seven or eight in church. Her favourite hymn was “Ave Maria”.

“It was one of the harder hymns but still I sang it… I loved it,” Michelle said.

She has been singing since then but didn’t go professional until about seven years ago. Michelle’s real singing started with the band Mischievous Guys. It was through them that she was discovered by local producer Bonny Alves. She’s now a part of the Kross Kolour family.

At 37, King is a happy mother of two sons and expects to tie the knot soon. She has churned out hits like “Guyanese Wine” and “On De Road Again”. The latter was a collaboration with Venezuelan singer Joselis Suarez which saw them winning the Road March title in 2008. Michelle is still working actively on her career.

“When I was going to Trinidad a few years ago with a group of artistes and Kross Kolour I had to find a catchy name,” Michelle explained, “and since I was big and hot, well I just had to get something along those lines. I couldn’t call myself Big Hot so I had to I went with Big Red… Red represents the hotness.”

Now Big Red is a name known all across Guyana.

Michelle grew up in Kitty, Georgetown with her adopted mother and Godmother. Her father, she said, was a singer but she’s never met him. However, she spends time with her biological mother, renowned local actress and director and now HIV activist, Desiree Edghill, these days.

“I was an early mother. I was teenage mom,” Michelle explained, “and it wasn’t until after I had my first son that I started singing for Mischievous Guys.”
Being a single mother was extremely difficult, she recalled, and there was a time in her life when she never thought she would be where she is today. In her late teens, Michelle had limited education and was struggling to make a living. It has been singing which had provided for her needs and wants over the years.

“Motherhood at that age takes away some from your childhood… It was really hard. But singing; singing and my children and the other people in my life who I love give me all the joy I could ever want,” she said.

Michelle is an active member of Women Across Differences (WAD), which is a non-profit organisation. It’s never too late, she said, for teenage moms to find something at which they can excel.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs to deal with throughout my career,” the singer said, “especially those that arose when I had to be away from home and away from my children. I try when I have spare time to spend it with my kids even though one of them is now an adult.I won’t say I’m the perfect single mom. But my older son always tells me ‘Mom you’ve done a great job’ and that is enough for me.”

In fact, Michelle described her older son as “the man behind my success in many ways”. It was he who wrote the lyrics for the hit “Guyanese Wine”. She recalled taking the track home one day, running it by her son and he said he would write her the song. The lyrics of which include: “… he say Trini//I say Guyanese//he say prove it//I say how babes//he say show me how the GT girls does wine…”

In December 2008, Michelle won Best Groovy Soca (Female) at the Accolade Awards. It wasn’t really shocking to win the title, she recalled, as she was already expecting it.

Next year, Michelle says, she hopes to enter the Calypso and Soca Monarch competitions. Michelle has never entered the Mashramani Calypso competition and she had stopped entering the Soca Monarch contest following the fiasco in 2006, which saw her win, then lose the crown to her now Kross Kolour stable mate Adrian Dutchin after a recount of the judges’ tally.

Despite her success as singer, Michelle said she is still a person like any other. When she’s at home she cooks, cleans and washes like a regular mom. After that’s done she gets busy with the computer games. More recently, she’s started accompanying her mother on walks.

Michelle is sure though, who she has to thank for her talent and for making it thus far. She says: “I’m might be heading right back to God. I want to start singing Gospel again. It’s something I’ve been seriously considering a while now.” This is her way of getting more in tune with her spirituality.

“With God everything is possible,” Michelle stated. “He’s a miracle.”

New Albulm for Solid Youth

Solid Youth is back! More than four years after his last album, the local gospel star has just released his third album and a new video.

The album ‘Solid as a Rock’ was recently recorded in Jamaica under the Readyback Record Label. The 12-track album includes two collaborations with Jamaican gospel artiste St Matthew–the owner of the Readyback label. The singer also recorded the video to one of his songs “I’m Back”, which is featured on the new album.

Speaking to The Scene, Solid described this as his “best album so far”. According to him, his latest release showcases a different side to his music with his slower reggae rhythms. With a bias towards the “one drop reggae rhythms”, the singer, says that this decision has made his compositions more “worship-like” which he says are very popular among certain sections of his fan base. Since releasing the album Solid Youth, whose real name is David Yasin has partnered with St Matthew in performing at various concerts in the USA and this resulted in welcomed publicity.

The story behind Solid’s latest release is one he describes as a “God appointment”. The duo was supposed to collaborate on a single when St Matthew was in Guyana last year, but this did not materialize as planned. However, what was initially major disappointment for the singer soon turned into a major opportunity when St Matthew later invited him to travel to Jamaica to record an entire album instead. This made him only the second artiste, after St Matthew himself, to record under this music label. And while, in Jamaica, he also decided to produce the video to the song “I’m Back” which is the first track on his new album.

The singer’s latest album is expected to be officially launched at the Easter Jam on Easter Monday. However, interested persons can get a copy of the latest release at Giftland Office Max for a cost of $1000.

Copies of the CD will also be available at the upcoming Gospel Explosion which will be held at the National Cultural Centre on the evening of March 27. Solid is expected to be one of the artistes performing at this event.

Meanwhile, Solid is determined to build on his current musical momentum and is working overtime at promoting his new album. He plans on travelling to New York City, in the USA and to several Caribbean islands where he has traditionally enjoyed a strong following. His two other albums ‘Spiritual Warfare’ and ‘Judgment’ have both won him musical acclaim, while his most popular hit so far is the song “Abstinence”.

And as expected, the singer has his eyes set on producing another album and more videos in the near future.

Bones man is 2010 Soca Monarch!

From Kaieteurnews.com. Congrats.

While Shelly G’s no show to defend her title proved a disappointment to some, none can complain about the 2010 choice for Soca Monarch.
Before a celebratory crowd, Orlando ‘Bones man’ Johashen, 27, a Berbician of Tempe Village and a worker at the Guyana Forestry Commission, was adjudged the 2010 Soca Monarch.
The artiste who copped the crown from a lineup of nine contestants was true to his Guyanese roots and proudly sang with support from the crowd, “ I don’t care what nobody say Mashramani time is we own… see we jumping…”
From the time he began his performance to his conclusion, the crowd was on fire for him and he did not disappoint with lyrical delivery like that of Trinidad soca sensation Bunji Garlin.
The father of one was a burst of energy and hype, leaving the crowd shouting “Bones man…we want Bones man” long after he exited the stage.

One woman, who is an obvious soca crazy fan, was heard telling others “I’m disappointed that Shelly G did not show up but Bones Man deserved it.”
Appearing as the penultimate performer, the artiste who won the Best Newcomer Prize three years ago, offered a performance that included fireworks and the crowd was with him on Saturday night.
The crowd liked him and his energy was great.
Unique in his delivery, he wore a straw skirt instead of pants under a large white coat.
Amidst performing he shouted, “ya’ll want to see the real Bones man’. As the crowd shouted in the positive, he stripped himself of the coat and the crowd went into a frenzy declaring him the clear winner.
He used the X-factor dancers who added to his energy and they were supported off stage by several Mocha jumbies (stilts walkers).
Tomeka Thomas, the pregnant lady was first up singing about her balloon.
She appeared as a queen and her backup dancers were a bunch of fully pregnant (imitations) women, dressed in leotards prancing around the stage showcasing their balloons proudly.
It was her second shot at the crown and this year she was inspired by last year’s Trinidad Soca Monarch, Fay-Ann Lyons.
Though being eight months pregnant, she took some serious risks to prove that she was fit. However, it must have been an error on the part of the MC not to have announced that she once resided in the ‘Islands’ and this possibly worked against her as her accent was obviously not Guyanese.
But both her and her baby proved entertaining as she imitated her soca inspiration in attitude and singing.
The crowd was moved to laughter as she announced that comedian Chow Pow was her baby father.
The audience was unsure of how to react when she executed a split to conclude her presentation.
B52 the Fireman was up next with ‘We carrying on’ and his was a performance that featured fireworks flying and the flame-throwers on and off stage as well as on the stage’s roof.
He donned a white suit lined with trimmings of the flag and was backed by dancers dressed in red and yellow outfits.
Something about the microphone sound was not as clear and caused him to literally strain his vocals in delivery.
He, like at least three others, including the winner, included the predictable, ‘Somebody missing’ chant but the crowd did show him some love.
Lady B’ (Barbra) was introduced next, and she appeared wearing a Guyana flag mohawk.
Hers was a delivery that stated that she “Want a man who could lift me up.”
That song sounded very familiar. Her backups included dancers who were good but they needed better costumes.
Some dubbed her “a good filler” but were saying when she exited the stage that “she should go home now”.
‘Back wine time’ was probably the energy saver to the first half of the competitors, as Beverly Nedd, using dance fanatics for back up, delivered a scorching performance that proved that age ain’t anything but a number.
She sounded really nice and professionally so too while using the stage well.
The crowd certainly enjoyed her serving of ‘Back wine time’ that made many exclaimed that “granny could entertain and wine.”
That was the performance to beat in the first half of the show but it did earn her third place.
Guyana-born Jamaica-based artiste, Pierre Da Silva, was next up and he came with much energy for his ‘mad, mad, mad’ song.
With sponsorship from Bill Express, he and his dancers donned doctors’ jackets and were full of energy but he somehow did not connect with the audience as he could have.
It was obvious that the crowd couldn’t decide if they should support him or not as for the most part, his delivery was so full of words that it was hard to understand what he was singing but the musical accompaniment was high energy.
His locks were full of sparkles and he too delivered the overplayed ‘somebody missing’ chant which evoked the usual crowd response as he paraded all over the stage.
‘Material things’ done by Tele Cruz who resides in Trinidad was a fairly delivered groovy soca, with dancers who appeared on an ATV imitating lady Gaga.
But the song also bordered on dance hall.
Then a lady whom he described as European came and offered some supposed exotic dancing before he ordered her off the stage because she was offering things that he was not interested in, namely material things.
Then came his dispersal of money (Trinidadian Dollar Bills) into the crowd, followed by him relieving himself of his shirt to reveal a Guyana flag painted on his chest.
While some enjoyed his delivery, many did not find him impressive enough. However, he got the judges’ nod for the Best Newcomer Prize.
His performance included a local steel pan player being invited to the stage to play parts of his song before he got back into the singing groove.
Former reporter turn singer, Jackie Handover, was a great act that presented “Festival time” with a good voice, while some said they saw a whole lot of Charmaine Blackman in her delivery.
She wore a two piece red short pants suit.
While she was energetic, she failed when she tried to interact with the audience by stating that Trinidad has Crop Over and Barbados has Carnival.
With work, some believe that she will be a force to be reckoned with in future competitions.
Vanilla offered an electric performance which earned her second place that encouraged patrons to get ‘High’.
Her presentation included Mocha Jumbies and dancers as well as bodybuilders.
She was dressed in a red jacket and a gold short pants.
She was backed by dancers from the National Dance School, sporting colours of the flag.
Amidst her performance there were several explosions of confetti and fireworks and she tore off her jacket to reveal a body hugging black and gold bodysuit.
And the fireworks exploded even more as dancers dressed in carnival costumes arrived on forklifts.
And before long, she too was on a forklift with support from a gyrating bodybuilder.
Some were loud in praises saying, “big-up Bones Man, he work hard for it for real, now he just got to keep up the hype and energy that he got and big things could happen for he”.

No copyrights, no protection, no $$$!

Pearl Lewis also known as ‘Precious Pearl’ is fighting to win this year’s calypso crown but she is also fighting to boot a contestant out of this year’s Carib Soca Monarch competition on an accusation that the woman has stolen the words of a song she originally wrote.

Pearl Lewis

But while Precious Pearl is accusing Barbara Nedd known as ‘Lady Barbara’- a finalist in this year’s soca competition- of “criminally and maliciously” stealing her song, Lady Barbara says it is nothing of the sort as while her song titled “I Want a Man” has the same rhythm as a song she and Precious Pearl once collaborated on, the lyrics are not the same.

According to Pearl, she was “completely shocked” when she heard her song titled “24/7 Man” being sung by Barbara on 98.1 fm and she made a valiant attempt to stop her from performing the song at the competition’s semifinal in Linden last weekend.

The Scene contacted the organizers of the competition and they confirmed that a complaint was lodged by Pearl but pointed out that there is not much they can do as there is no intellectual property law in Guyana. Further, it was pointed out that Pearl has no way of proving that the song being sung by Barbara is hers.

“It would be unfair for us to push someone out of the competition based on the allegation of another,” one of the organizers told The Scene.

But Pearl is not letting up and she has labelled the alleged stealing of her song as “banditry” by Barbara with whom she had collaborated in 2005 for a song which saw her being the songwriter and Barbara the performer and which they entered into that year’s Road March Competition. The agreement, according to Pearl, was that should the song win, the prize money would have been divided equally, but the idea was later aborted after Barbara allegedly “started portraying some greedy and covetous traits” and operating as if the song belonged to her. She confirmed that Barbara had added the “small action piece for the road which was inadvertently left out” and which amounted to eight lines.

Barbara Nedd

It’s just the eight lines from the original song that are now part of the song being sung by Barbara who has since told The Scene that she would “feel small to use any words from Precious Pearl.” Barbara, a former police officer who has been singing for 26 years and has written all of her songs in the past, flat out denied the allegations by Pearl and is questioning the motive behind the accusation.

She recalled that Pearl who she met some years ago had said she wanted to become a singer “to add meaning to her life” and the song was originally a poem when Pearl first showed it to her.

“I am not going to tell you any lie they were good words and I just had to put a chorus to it,” she told The Scene. She said she paid for the song to be arranged and she recorded the song and they agreed to enter it into the Road March competition.

“Out of the blue one Sunday morning Miss Pearl Lewis called me and told me that we have to see a lawyer and sign a contract which would say that 60 per cent of any money made from the song will go to her and 40 per cent will go to me. I said ‘No way’ because it is my money use to record it, it is my voice and it when I have to perform is my energy,” the woman told The Scene.

She said it was at that point she decided to pull out and although many persons encouraged her to remain in the competition as it was a good song she wanted no further dealings with Pearl. She said Pearl did refund her a small percentage of the money she used to record the song and she accepted it on the urging of her then boss after Pearl had gone to his office “and behave bad”.

According to Barbara, the song she is singing now does not have any of Pearl’s words but it does have the eight lines she had added to the original song. She challenged Pearl to bring her original song to compare it with the one she is now singing.

And while Pearl is calling on the soca organizers to get rid of Barbara, the woman said she plans to continue on the competition and is looking towards winning the crown. She suggested that Pearl channel her energy towards winning her competition also instead of attempting to get her thrown out of soca competition.

“Why is this woman doing this to me, what have I done to her?” a bewildered sounding Barbara questioned.

From Stabroek News

Shelly is a no show!!

After this:

Reigning Carib Soca Monarch Shellon ‘Shelly-G’ Garraway is asking where is her competition for this year’s event since she believes that her tune this year “All That” really is all that and will see her holding on to the coveted title.

Last weekend at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in Linden, nine contestants booked their tickets for the final which will be held on February 20 at the National Park.

Shelly-G was a no-show in Linden and though it was not mandatory for her to be there, it is customary that the champions would have a look at what they would be up against.

Prior to that, there was much speculation as regards the Soca Monarch’s participation this year but when The Scene caught up with Shelly-G her response was: “Well the last time I checked I was still in the competition, so yeah, I will be taking part”.

She added, “I haven’t really heard anyone yet who I think would give me a real challenge. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that they are not good or anything like that but I don’t think they will defeat me. But, I think Beverly has a good song. I think they say she scored the highest in Linden and then there are the usual people who are normally good.”

Asked if she thinks that her song for this year is better composed and better received publicly than her winning track last year, the mother of one noted, “Well honestly, it hasn’t really been playing as much as the other songs so I can’t say about that yet. But see, when I write a song, I always put a lot into it and I always say to myself that it has that winning tune. But we have a video out for the song now and I’m looking forward to this year’s competition.”

Comes this:

While Shelly G’s no show to defend her title proved a disappointment to some, none can complain about the 2010 choice for Soca Monarch.
Before a celebratory crowd, Orlando ‘Bones man’ Johashen, 27, a Berbician of Tempe Village and a worker at the Guyana Forestry Commission, was adjudged the 2010 Soca Monarch.
The artiste who copped the crown from a lineup of nine contestants was true to his Guyanese roots and proudly sang with support from the crowd, “ I don’t care what nobody say Mashramani time is we own… see we jumping…”
From the time he began his performance to his conclusion, the crowd was on fire for him and he did not disappoint with lyrical delivery like that of Trinidad soca sensation Bunji Garlin.
The father of one was a burst of energy and hype, leaving the crowd shouting “Bones man…we want Bones man” long after he exited the stage.

One woman, who is an obvious soca crazy fan, was heard telling others “I’m disappointed that Shelly G did not show up but Bones Man deserved it.”

This is shameful Shelly!! Shameful, where's Adrian when you need him?

2010 Soca Monarch

She was seven months pregnant. No less. But Antigua-based Guyanese, Tomeka Thomas did not let this hinder her stage performance as she set the Mackenzie Sports Club alight to secure her spot in the finals of the 2010 Soca Monarch competition in Linden on Saturday.

She moved and she grooved and gyrated and jumped. There were cries of anxiety because of her condition but nonetheless she turned out to be the night’s favourite sending the crowd wild with her piece titled ‘Balloon’. It was apparently a ladies night and judging from the crowd’s response, the second in line was mother of five, Beverly ‘Little B’ Williams whose piece, “Back Wine Time” was dubbed as the new name for ‘back ball’. While sporting costumes was not common among the contestants on Saturday night, Little B’s colourful halter top and tiny, black “popcorn pants” suited her performance eminently well.

Back wine - Beverly Williams demonstrating the title of her song

The pregnant Tomeka Thomas flouncing on stage

The night was highly favourable for most of the female performers but the crowd failed to find any flavour in reigning Road March queen Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts. She was the last to take the stage and despite her dazzling, golden flouncy short skirt and matching bustier her ‘High’ failed to lift the crowd.

Not many of the male competitors hit it off with the crowd though Orlando ‘Bonesman’ Johashen had everyone on their feet when he took to the stage doing his piece ‘Is We Own’. The first competitor Atiola ‘Attie’ Peters performed ‘Leave me alone’ and the crowd left him alone. Patrons had high expectations of the lone Lindener, Jermaine “Cyclone” Bailey but despite his valiant effort to get the crowd moving with his song “Celebration time” almost everyone in the audience took their seats and were quiet as mice.

The semi-final of the competition was well attended by Lindeners and persons from across Guyana. Popular entertainers Jomo and Chow Pow amused the crowd with comedy and a Soca medley before the first contestant took to the stage.

The twelve who participated in the semi-finals were Barbara ‘Lady Barbara’ Nedd performing “I Want a man”; Jackie Hanover performing “Festival Time”; Simeon Sam performing “Love Over Hate”; Bailey performing “Celebration Time”; Thomas performing “Balloon”; Peters performing “Leave Me Alone”; Pierre Da Silva performing “Mad! Mad! Mad!”; Williams performing “Back Wine Time”; Roberts performing “High”; Wilbur ‘B52’ Levans performing “Carrying On”, Johashen performing “Is We Own” and Tiele “Tele Cruz” Thorne doing “Material Things”.

Only nine of the twelve competitors have made it to the finals and eliminated are Peters, Bailey and Sam. This years’ contest saw three overseas-based Guyanese performers: Peters, who resides in Barba-dos; Da Silva living in Jamaica; and Thorne based in Trinidad and Tobago.

Festival Time - Newcomer Jackie Hanover during her performance

Is We Own- Orlando Johashen doing his thing on Saturday night

Bringing the curtains down on the Saturday show which was dubbed by most as “a very good show” was Linden’s own, Malika Boyd –the winner of the GT&T’s 2009 jingle and song competition. After the show all twelve of the competitors along with Jomo and Chow Pow kept the party spirit alive at popular Linden night spot, the Library Club.

Chutney Monarch 2010: Fiona

Fiona Singh, who rose to fame as a member of the Sugar Cake Girls entertainment group, was adjudged Chutney Queen early yesterday morning despite strong competition from Mahendra Ramkellawan who delighted the crowd with an elaborate theatrical performance featuring men on stilts and a cantankerous granny as his mother-in-law.

The tantalising Fiona performs “Besab a Suriyabay” which won her the title of 2010 Chutney Queen.

Ramkellawan’s song about how his mother-in-law is always accusing of him about being a “Lah-ma-ta” (a physically handicapped person) was appreciated by the audience. He obviously thought he should have won, and so walked off the stage as soon as it was announced that he was in second place.

“Mahendra? Mahendra?” the MC called out, but he was long gone off the stage. The crowd nevertheless congratulated him.

It took a good few seconds before Fiona realised she had won the National Chutney Singing Competition, which featured a staggering 13 judges split up in three panels!

She soon overcame the shock of it all and belted out once more her winning song “Besab a Suriyabay.” Don’t try to understand what that means. It has no meaning at all. It was just something she came up with, much the same like Chris Garcia came with “Janay Burgay-Jaane” for the incredibly wicked “Chutney Bachanal.”

However, once the “Besab a Suriyabay” chorus line was gone, you realised Fiona’s song was about the need for an aggressive sexual partner – and it was put in equally aggressive language: “Ah want a Wukkah-man to wuk meh everyday.”

The song had a good melody to it, bordering on the sort of stuff Babla and Kanchan produced, but the raw raunchy lyrics might prevent the song from becoming popular.

Fiona added to her performance six male Afro-Guyanese dancers from the immensely popular X-Factor Dance Group. It was her way of being “different” and stepping away from the Indian girls with long hair and skirts.

The effort obviously paid off and Fiona walked away with the prize of $550,000.

Four-time monarch, Haresh Singh, failed to impress the judges, even though his song was refreshing and a departure from the popular Chutney theme. He won third place. His song “Din Ta Din” is a true story of how he was challenged by a Trinidadian into a competition.

Two contestants who sought to bring something different to the night were Karen Benneth and Suraj Narine.

Benneth was the only Afro-Guyanese performer in the competition and sought to rope in some Soca with her song “Chutney Soca Fever.” She delivered smoothly and her song was likeable, with a nice groovy, feel-good rhythm. However, the judges didn’t give her a place.

Suraj Narine’s song took on a Punjabi flavour with both rhythm and antics and the occasional “Bale Bale” but the judges also did not think he deserved a place in the finals.

Belly dancer Sandella Craig who delivered strong performances in the previous two competitions did not impress. Her song “My best friend’s wedding” was weak in content and the drama she sought to create on stage was somehow lost in the presentation.

Mahendra Ramkellan performs his song “Lah-ma-ta” which won him second place in the 2010 National Chutney Singing Competition.

Sandella’s story was about how she prepared to “shake it and show them all” at her best friend’s wedding only to find that the Dulaha (groom) is her sweetheart.

Bunty Singh, whose song dropped into the common “rum” theme won him the $100,000 prize as the most promising artiste.

Annandale market vendor, Beesham Jairam, who was last year named the Most Promising Artiste, failed to live up to the potential the judges saw in him last year.

From Mahaicony, his dream is of winning the calypso monarchy. However, Beesham’s performance of “Getaway thing” only provided laughter for the audience and nothing else.

The competition this year was a definite improvement over last year, though some pre-screening of the contestants could have kept some of them off the stage.

Owing to a string of poor attendances, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport which hosted the event as part of the country’s 40th Republic Anniversary celebrations, roped in Trinidad Rikki Jai to bring in the crowd.

In addition, King’s Duck Curry added flavour to the event. An estimated 1,000 persons waited to see Fiona take home the title.

Rikki Jai also served as one of the judges of the completion. He opened the show with the popular “Mor Tor” and then in the end belted out some of the more popular Chutney songs of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Ministry had also brought in Trinidad and Tobago music arranger Rishi Gayadeen, who has worked with the likes of Rikki Jai and Adesh Samaroo, to help the competitors.

Apart from the 15 Guyanese selected to take part, three overseas-based Guyanese also competed.

However, in the end, it was Fiona, a mother of two, who proved that she had what it takes to be Queen of Chutney.

Struckroot: Guyana is more than Jim Jones!!!

From the comment section, Andre of Stuckroot responding to my post where the only thing they can say about Guyana is Jim Jones.

A friend of mine just brought this post to my attention which i would like to comment on since it's very inaccurate and the writer took no time to even find out more about the band by sending them an email which was located under the Bio of the band on myspace.com/struckroot

If you would take a look, you would see my first post about Struckroot was written since May 2008. It included the bio you had on your myspace then. A much better written bio.

First, StruckRoot at the time that Bio was written was not a Guyanese rock band. When that bio was written, two of its members were from Sao Paulo, Brazil, one was from Angola and one from Guyana, which is me.

I guess I'll stop promoting you then.

As the Bio stated the band was formed in Guyana and from Sao Paulo where it was based. This is important for people in the music business to know where we are located when they need to make contact with the band.

Not saying nay.

If you ever traveled outside of Guyana a lot you would know people have no idea where Guyana is. In Sao Paulo, people don't know of Guyana, they think it's French Guiana we're speaking about when they ask where I am from. You tell them Jim Jones and everyone remembers, so you tell me what is wrong about that!

I make it my duty to tell them where it is without mentioning Jim Jones. After all you may not realize that they still do not know where Guyana is after telling them about Jim Jones, they only remember the Jim Jones story and maybe pictures of people living in the jungle, but not Guyana! How about you tell them something about present day Guyana, Jim Jones happened how many years ago? The younger generation probably don't even know much about it anyway. How about telling them Guyana is in South America, between Venezuela, Suriname and just above Brazil? How about it lies 6° 50' N 58° 12' W. How about you tell them to google it? That Jim Jones business is pure laziness and I hope that does not translate over to your music.

Well my friend, StruckRoot wasn't formed to promote Guyana or write songs about Guyana. Our agenda is to promote our musical abilities and hopefully attract a few fans along the way. Instead of attacking bands/people maybe can use your blog to promote them and that will help our country along the way, because if the bands/artists get recognition, our country will be known less for Jonestown.

Timeka Marshall doesn't sing to promote Guyanese music, but she represents Guyana, Eddie Neblett sings gospel not Guyanese music but he represents Guyana, Natural Black is a reggae artist but he represents Guyana where ever he goes so please don't bring this lame ass argument to me. I am calling you out on your foolishness not attacking you. As I said before I have written positively about you since May 08. This is what this whole blog is about, positivity about Guyanese artists, but I will not let you get away with that Jim Jones laziness. I think you like mentioning Jim Jones, that might give you more 'gothic' cred.


This is Guyana: Beautiful Guyana.

New Music: Timeka Marshall - Girls gone wild