Dwight
Yorke
Captain of the Trinidad and Tobago National Football Team
Position: Forward
Date of Birth: November 3, 1971
Place of Birth: Canaan, Tobago
Height:
175 cm
Weight: 194 lbs
Club: Sydney FC
Nickname: Duffy
Debut: January 1, 1988
Clubs/Schools: Birmingham City,
Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Signal Hill SC.
Yorke was capped 55 times for the Trinidad and Tobago national team, scoring
23 goals. He retired from international football in 2001 with his friend Russell Latapy after a fiasco with the coach, however
he returned to the team for the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign, in which the team qualified for the World Cup finals for
the first time in their history after a 2-1 aggregate qualifying victory over Bahrain.
Yorke has good skill, vision and good attitude. Works very hard and
can create and score goals almost at will. He is T&T's most world famous football player, and has
represented T&T at youth and senior levels. Dwight Yorke has been nervous once in his life, or so
he says. His debut for Manchester United kept him awake the night before. He needn't have worried. A £12.6million record-signing,
Yorke was an instant hit with the Manchester United fans and by the end of that first season was named Carling Player of the
Year. His goals, his demeanour, his overall contribution, his obvious love for the game and gratitude for all that it has
given him, all of this makes him a very special player. Brought from Tobago by Graham Taylor, he spent several seasons at
Aston Villa. But it is with United, and particularly in his partnership with Andy Cole, that Yorke emerged as a world-class
striker. That relationship with Cole came as a surprise to critics who anticipated that the players were too similar. How
wrong they were has been proven over and again, as the pair set scoring records in that first season. Yorke's second season
at Old Trafford was less dazzling. International calls (to the Gold Cup and for World Cup qualifiers) kept him on the move
for much of the time. And yet he still managed 23 goals. Not bad! But it was all downhill from there for Dwight, and by the
2001/02 season it became clear he did not figure in Sir Alex Ferguson's plans. A series of much-publicised off-field antics
proved to be his downfall - not least his relationship with model Jordan which eventually saw her fall pregnant with his child.
Was originally put on the market at £6million.
Blackburn Rovers were desperate to land the player but refused to pay the
fee. After a long process of haggling, Yorke eventually signed for Rovers for just £2million in July 2002. An extra £600,000
could be payable on Yorke's appearances and Blackburn's performance. The player signed a three-year contract. Yorke scored
64 goals in 151 games for United. He was reunited with Cole at Ewood Park, who had moved to Rovers just months earlier. The
legendary playboy nicknamed All Night Dwight is a far different footballer from the teenager who took his first tentative
steps on the road to glory in 1989.
Since his bid as captain and Football Ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago in the
2006 World Cup Diwight Yorke has since retired from International football for his country and continues his professional
career at Sunderland A.F.C.
-----------------------------------
Stern John
Trinidad and Tobago Nation Football Team Forward
Position:
Forward
Date of Birth: October 30, 1976
Place of Birth: Trinidad
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 188 lbs
Club: Derby
County
Nickname: Bravo
Caps: 89 (64 goals)
Debut: February 15, 1995 vs Finland
Clubs/Schools: Coventry City, Birmingham
City, Nottingham Forest, Columbus Crew, Carolina Dynamo, New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers, Malta Carib Alcons,
Mercer County
Community College, El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive.
John moved to the United States to attend Mercer County Community College
in 1995. He joined the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer from the now-defunct New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers of the A-League
for the 1998 season. John received a tryout with Crew based on the good word from his older cousin, Columbus Crew defender
and Trinidad and Tobago international, Ansil Elcock. With the Crew, he proved to be one of the most prolific scorers in league
history. John led the league with 26 goals (and also with 57 points to be named the MLS Scoring Champion) in 1998. He was
named to the MLS Best XI that year as well, and tied for the lead with 18 goals in 1999. After the 1999
season with Columbus, John was acquired by Nottingham Forest of the English First Division for a fee of £1.5 million. However,
eventually financial difficulties at Forest following the team's failed bid at promotion forced John's sale to Birmingham
City of the FA Premier League for the sum of £100,000, having scored 18 goals in 49 starts for Forest. At Birmingham, John
rarely played, having trouble breaking through an accomplished roster of forwards, and was sold to Coventry on September 14,
2004. In his first season with Coventry, John finished as the team's second highest goalscorer, managing to score 12 goals
despite starting in barely half of Coventry's games. At the start of the 2005/06 season, following the signing of James Scowcroft,
John found himself outside of Micky Adams's first-team plans. As a result he was loaned to Derby County on September 16, 2005,
he rejoined Coventry three months later. Since returning, he has found himself to be rejuvenated and increasingly improving.
John has also been an important player for the Trinidad and Tobago national football team, currently the
team's all-time leading scorer with 64 goals (as of October 12, 2005).
Currently the team's all-time leading scorer with 68 goals in 100 caps (as of October 14, 2006). He played in all three of T&T's World Cup group matches at Germany 2006.
On the 29th January, Stern John was transferred to Sunderland AFC for an undisclosed
fee. This signing was Sunderland manager Roy Keane's sixth signing of the 2006-2007 season January transfer window. he scored
his first goals against Southend in a 4-0.
----------------------------
Russell Latapy
Trinidad and
Tobago National Football Team
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: August 2, 1968
Place of Birth: Laventille,
Trinidad and Tobago
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 160 lbs
Club: Falkirk FC
Nickname: Little Magician, Latas, Stompy
Caps:
Unknown
Debut: Unknown
Clubs/Schools: Dundee United, Glasgow Rangers, Hibernian, Boavista, Porto,
Trintoc Académica de Coimbra, Port Morant United, San Fernando Technical
Institute.
Russell ranks highly among the best footballers ever produced by Trinidad
and Tobago. A dynamic midfielder and one who excites the crowd, Russell has a natural gift and is one of the rare things in
the game of football, a playmaker and up to this day continues to be one of the most exciting players to watch in a T&T
shirt as well as a Falkirk one. Latapy has been on the national scene since his days as an Under-10 footballer and has produced
many a sparkling performance that has inspired onlookers to dub him "The Little Magician." He became the first Trinidadian
to appear in the European Champions' League during his second season in Portugal with FC Porto. Following his announced retirement
from the National Team in 2001, Russell, following the influence of his close pal Dwight Yorke and administrator Jack Warner,
decided to make one final return to the Team and did so in fine fashion, scoring in T&T’s 3-2 win over Guatemala
in World Cup qualifying action in September, 2005. He is also focusing on the coaching aspect of the game and is current attached
as an assistant coach with Falkirk FC.
On 03 August 2005 Russell Latapy played his first international game in four years
in a World Cup qualifying match in Port of Spain against Guatemala where he scored one of the goals that secured a 3-2 victory
for Trinidad and Tobago. Latapy then played for five other World Cup qualifying matches but after Trinidad and Tobago secured
its place in the World Cup after beating Bahrain 1-0, he spent much of his time in Germany on the bench as Trinidad and Tobago
played Sweden and England and his teammate from his ill fated Strike Squad days, Dwight York, started for all of the games.
It was only in Trinidad and Tobago's third World Cup game against Paraguay in Kaiserslautern that Latapy was called upon in the 67th minute as Trinidad and Tobago's final substitute.
Latapy's appearance on the field sent Trinidad and Tobago supporters into a frenzy of cheers as his appearance offered some
hope of salvaging a game that was already going against Trinidad and Tobago as Paraguay was up 0-1 after a Trinidad and Tobago
own goal. Despite Latapy's presence on the pitch, Trinidad and Tobago lost the match with a final score of 0-2. Although leaving
the tournament after playing for only 23 minutes Latapy's performance saw him realize a dream that, after being crushed in
1989, took another 16 years to be fulfilled.
Upon leaving Germany after losing to Paraguay, Russell Latapy and the rest of the
Soca Warriors returned to a hero's welcome at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad. In recognition of their achievement in qualifying for the World Cup each
member of the team was awarded Trinidad and Tobago's second highest honour, the Chaconia Medal in gold, and TT$1,000,000. Latapy's World Cup appearance
marked his retirement from international football and saw him return to his playing and coaching duties at Falkirk in Scotland.
---------------------------
Heather Headley
Born October 5, 1974 Headley is a Grammy nominated R&B singer
from Trinidad and Tobago. She began playing the music of her native country at a young age, including calypso, reggae and
soca. She moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States at age 15 when her father was offered a job there as pastor of
a church. After graduating from Northrop High School, she attended Northwestern
University to study communications and musical theatre. In 1997, she played Nala in The Lion King on Broadway. Headley's performance
was well-received and she then originated the title role in the Broadway adaptation of Aida, earning herself a Tony Award
in 1999. She recorded her first solo studio album, This Is Who I Am, in 2001 for RCA Records. Although its first single, "He
Is", wasn't a major hit,
the follow-up, "I Wish I Wasn't", achieved more success and earned her a Grammy nomination for
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, along with a Best New Artist nomination. On September 6, 2003 Heather Headley married Brian Musso, formerly of the New York Jets. Her second album, In My Mind,
was delayed due to the various executive shake-ups associated with RCA parent BMG's merger with Sony, and Headley joked that
it should have been called Caught Up instead. Under BMG North America chairman/CEO Clive Davis for the first time,
Headley
released the album in January 2006, with the title track, produced by India.Arie collaborator Shannon Sanders, becoming the
lead single, with a video by Diane Martel.
------------------------------
Wendy Fitzwilliam
Born
October 4, 1972, Fitzwilliam is Trinidad and Tobago's second Miss Universe. In 1996, the first of two
daughters graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor's degree in law. At 25, she won the 1998 Miss Universe
competition held at the Stan Sherrif Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. She beat off challenges from South Africa, Russia, Ireland,
Brazil, India, Venezuela (the eventual runner-up Veruska Ramirez), USA, Colombia, and Puerto Rico to win the crown. Fitzwilliam's
regal air and perfect presentations won her the honor of being the second Trinidadian (and second black woman) to hold the
Miss Universe title, but during the telecast her halting final answer led to the jury deadlocking between her and Veruska
Ramirez of Venezuela. Because there were eight members of the panel and no way to break the tie, the higher semifinal scores,
which were Fitzwilliams', became decisive. During her reign, she was honored by the United Nations and
bestowed the title of UNAIDS and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for her work in HIV/AIDS education and awareness. After her reign,
she recorded a jazz demo and continued her education. In 2000, she was admitted into the bar. he has also
been appointed the Red Cross Ambassador of Youth for the Caribbean.
This is the first time the Red Cross has appointed anyone to
this high honorary office. Wendy has acted as a judge and host for many regional and international pageants,
such as Miss Guyana, Miss Trinidad & Tobago, and Miss Universe.
Currently she is the Vice President of Business Development at the Evolving
TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited, a state-owned company in Trinidad and Tobago. She is also attached
to the Trinidad Guardian's Guardian in Education: Making a Difference project, a series of motivational school tours that
also features former World Champion sprinter Ato Boldon and cyclist Michael Phillips.
In January 2006, Fitzwilliam announced that she is expecting her first child in
June 2006. She appeared at the Miss Universe Guide to Beauty book launch in April 2006 and was heavily pregnant at
this time. It was reported in May that Wendy gave birth to a son in the United States by many media houses in Trinidad and
Tobago, this was later confirmed by her mother, Juditha Fitzwilliam.
----------------------------------
Ato Boldon
Born December 30, 1973, Boldon is an athlete from Trinidad and Tobago,
a four-time Olympic medal winner. Born in Port of Spain, Boldon left for the United States at age fourteen, and became a football
player. There, his sprinting capacities were discovered, and he quit playing football in the early 1990s. Boldon was sent
to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, and later that year he won the 100 m and 200 m
titles at the World Junior Championships.
Boldon won his first international medal at the 1995 World Championships, taking home the bronze in the 100 m. He
repeated that performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics, where he also placed third in both the 100m and 200m events. In 1997,
he won his first title, taking the 200 m at the World Championships, his country's first title in that competition. The following
year Ato picked up gold in the 100 m 1998 Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recording a time of 9.88 seconds
beating Namibia's Frankie Fredericks (9.96) into silver and Obadele Thompson (10.00) Barbados bronze. A silver medal in the
100 m and a bronze in the 200 m were the result of the 2000 Summer Olympics, after he had been hampered by injuries the year
before. In 2001, Boldon tested positive for ephedrine, and was given a warning, but was not suspended. Boldon maintained the
doping was part of a cold medicine. Boldon finished fourth in the men's 100m sprint and was in the men's 4x100metre relay
team that finished third at the 2001 World Championships, but was upgraded to bronze and silver medals in 2005 after the times
of the American Tim Montgomery were removed from the record for doping violations. Ato Boldon is the eighth person to win
an Olympic medal for Trinidad and Tobago (see Trinidad and Tobago Olympic medalists).
In 2006 Ato Boldon made a DVD of his journey to Bahrain to see the Trinidad and Tobago National Football Team ( Soca Warriors) qualify for the World Cup. See www.boldoninbahrain.com for more details. ---------------------------------
Brian Charles Lara
Lara born May 2, 1969 (nicknamed "The Prince of Port-of-Spain"} is a West
Indian cricketer. Lara is acknowledged as one of the world's greatest batsmen, having several times topped the Test batting
rankings and being the current world record holder for the highest individual innings score. Lara has shown an almost unparalleled
ability to build massive innings, and holds several world records
for high scoring. He has the highest individual score
in both first-class cricket (501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994) and Test cricket (400 not out for the West
Indies against England in 2004).
He also holds the record for the highest total number of runs in a Test career,
after overtaking Allan Border in November 2005. He is the only man to have reclaimed the Test record score, having scored
375 against England in 1994,
a record that stood until Matthew Hayden's 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003. His 400 not out
also made him the second player after Don Bradman to score two Test triple-centuries, and the second after Bill Ponsford to
score two first-class quadruple-centuries. He has scored eight double centuries in Test cricket, second only to Bradman's
twelve.
Lara captained the West Indies from 1997 to 1999. He was reappointed as captain
against the touring Australians in 2003, and struck 110 in his first Test match back in charge, showing signs of him returning
to his best. In September 2004, West Indies won the ICC Champions Trophy in England under his captaincy and seemed to have
finally started their comeback from years of poor performance. In March 2005, Lara, along with six other senior players, was
dropped by the West Indies Cricket Board from the West Indies team over their personal Cable & Wireless sponsorship deals,
which clashed with the Cricket Board's main sponsor, Digicel.
The issue was resolved after the first Test of the series
against the touring South African team. Lara returned to the team for the second Test (and scored a huge first innings score
of 196), but in the process lost his captaincy indefinitely to the newly-appointed Shivnarine Chanderpaul. In the next Test,
against the same opponents, he scored a majestic 176 in the first innings, which was hailed by many as one of his best innings
in recent years. After an indifferent one day series against South Africa, he once again established himself as one of the
leading batsmen of the modern era when he scored his first Test century against the visiting Pakistanis in the first Test
at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.
On April 26, 2006 Lara was reappointed the captain of the
West Indies cricket team for the third time. This followed the resignation of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had been captain
for thirteen months - in which the West Indies won just one of the 14 Test matches they had competed. In May 2006, Lara led
the West Indies to successful One-Day series victories against Zimbabwe and India. Lara's team played Australia in the final
for the ICC Champions Trophy and lost.
On 16 December 2006 he became the first player for the
West Indies to pass 10,000 One Day International runs. along with Sachin Tendulkar one of only
two players to do so in both forms of the game.
On 10 April 2007 Lara confirmed
his retirement from one day cricket post the 2007 Cricket World Cup. A few days later he announced
that he would in fact be retiring from all international cricket after the tournament.
Lara played his final international game on 21 April 2007 in a dead
rubber World Cup game game against England. He was run out for 18; England won the game.
---------------------------
Machel Montano
A young Trinidadian who is edging his name among the elite in
the music industry. Machel and his band Xtatik has been the premier soca band in the Caribbean for more than a decade and
have established themselves as the leading draw at major events in New York City , Miami , Toronto , and London and throughout
the Caribbean Diasporas. Machel is recognized as the leading performer in the soca music genre and is highly regarded as well
as a songwriter, producer and band leader. Machel began his career in 1982 at age seven. As early
as 1984, he formed his band Pranasonic Express now called XTATIK. Machel’s debut album TOO YOUNG TO SOCA, released in
1985, was an instant hit which earned him many rave reviews and standing ovations wherever he performed.
In 1986, he appeared on Star Search in Hollywood bringing Soca Music
to the screens of US National Television. He was described as a Stevie Wonder of Soca. Machel and XTATIK have performed with
many popular international
entertainment personalities including: Freddie Jackson, TLC, Third World , Shaggy, El Debarge,
Destiny’s Child, The Boyz, Kris Kross, Buju Banton, Ziggy Marley, Garnet Silk, Shabba Ranks, Bounty Killa and many others.
In 1987, at the age of twelve, Machel became the first Trinidadian
and youngest Entertainer to win the Caribbean Song Festival. In 1991 at sixteen, he won the Young Kings Competition. XTATIK
won best playing music band on the road for CARIBANA 94 and MIAMI CARNIVAL 94. In 1995 Machel won Party Vocalist of the year
and in 1996 XTATIK won Party band of the Year. In 1995 and 1997 Machel & Xtatik journeyed to London and mesmerized the
sold out crowds. In 1997 Machel became the youngest ROAD MARCH KING of Trinidad
& Tobago and XTATIK’S album HEAVY DUTY has been described as one of the best selling SOCA Albums ever. Machel and
XTATIK have produced sixteen (16) albums with seven (7) mini albums seventeen (17) singles a ten (10) singles on compilation
and three (3) cassette singles.
In 2006, Machel Montano teamed up with Patrice Roberts to sing the
big 2006 Road March winner "Band of De Year"
2006 Tracks: Amnesty, Come Along, Hot, La Vida, Scandalous, Band of De Year, Dance
with You, O Larki.
The band developed and was re-invented by leader Machel several times as Xtatik
5.0, The Xtatik Circus, Xtatik The Road Marching Band, The Band of the Year and many others. Every year Machel has a new concept
to keep his band and his performances fresh. This year, 2007 they are known as Machel Montano HD (High Definition) and he
promotes the concept by saying that he is the first human being to go HD. He claims this is a representation
of the the evolution of his music over the last 25 years and highly improved style in which his music shall be presented to
his fans over radio formats, television, and during live performances. He is part of the huge campaign in Trinidad and Tobago
to promoting safe driving - "Arrive Alive". Part of the hype surrounding the ever-evolving Machel this year is his HD tour
bus, a 20 year old bus from the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) was re-done and includes a
bedroom, bathroom facilities, flat screen TVs, Internet access and expansive audio systems.
It was reported that during a concert at The Popular Zen Night Club in Trinidad,
Machel and his band HD had wrapped up a performance and were casually conversing with the crowd and signing autographs when,
one of the patrons of the club accidentally through a drink on one of Machel's Female friends. It was reported in The Trinidad
Express Newspaper that the man appologised for the accident, but Machel and his entourage reportedly threw abusive words at
the man and roughed him up physically. The man was thrown out of the club and Machel and His band followed him outside and
beat him unconsciously in the middle of the road. The man was rushed to the Port of Spain Geneal Hospital where he Was warded
in The Intensive Care Unit. The matter was further investigated by The Trinidad & Tobago Police service as well as Prominent
Attorney Prakash Ramadhar. It was later reported that Machel and his entourage were to be charged for abusive treatment and
disturbing the peace. Since Machel had been in the spot light with these negative remarks, it was therefore taken action that
he would loose major international sponsors as well as other related endorsements. The Zen nightclub was also the location
where popular American Artiste Akon was charged for lewd dancing with a 15 year old Danah Alleyne.
2007 Album - "The Book of Angels" - includes hits like:
Down D Road, Higher Than High, Jumbie, Mud, One More Time, Hold You Tonight, Like Bollywood, Sha Na Na, Light It
Up.
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Denise Belfon
DOB: 23 November 1968
BIO: She’s now rated as One of the Caribbean’s
Hottest Artistes. Known to her fans as Saucy Wow for her energetic, scintillating performances, she has also earned the titles
of Soca Diva and Caribbean Soca Dancehall Queen. Her stunning stage act and music has been seen and heard by audiences throughout
the Caribbean, across North America, even across the Atlantic in London, wherever the Caribbean diaspora can be found.
Over the years she has also become a favourite with the US
College circuit.
Just plug her name into any search engine on the Internet, you are guaranteed to get over 700 hits. With
her long awaited debut album scheduled to be released in November 2004, it is without a doubt that she is poised to take the
world by storm.
Indeed, the time has come to show the world what Denise ‘Saucy
Wow’ Belfon is all about. Denise Ann Sinoda Belfon was born on November 23, 1968 in Trinidad and Tobago. As a young
girl in school, she was a football player, and was even offered a scholarship to Howard University to join the all Girls football
team. However, an injury at the time prevented her from taking up the opportunity.
Denise’s other love from an early
age was the arts. She has been singing since the age of 9, and has also been a dancer and a model. When she was not in the
spotlight, Denise taught gymnastics at the Belmont Junior Secondary school and at the YMCA.
In 1990, Denise was discovered by the bandleader of Roy Cape.
She started singing professionally with the band Black Sheep, before moving on to Sound Revolution. Her first solo recording
was the soca hit "Ka Ka Lay Lay".
Since then, Denise has gone on to become the most forceful
female solo act in the Caribbean, having recorded a string of hit singles: "Hard Wuk", "De Jammette", "Saucy Baby",
and "Indian Man", that continue to draw frenzy from audiences and partygoers across the Caribbean and in the diaspora.
These songs and many others have earned Denise the rank as
one of the Caribbean’s top talents. "After I started
with the band Black Sheep, I was encouraged by the performances of Super Blue and Denise Plummer
to pursue a solo career.
I would also say that Aretha Franklin, Billie Halliday and Mahalia Jackson have been my musical influences since I started
in this business. Their work has always intrigued me".
2006 Soca Tracks: Goodie, Lewwe Do Dat, People's Choice, This Time, Wada Bam Bam.
------------------------------
Bunji
Garlin
BIO: Since his debut in
1998, Bunji Garlin has taken the dancehall soca genre and turned it into his musical kingdom. His raspy chant and dancehall
background, combined with pulsating soca rhythms and the energy with which he performs,
have earned him many loyal subjects,
who ensure his position as 'King of Ragga Soca and Ragga hip hop'. Bunji started composing material as a teenager for school competitions. His success at that level encouraged him to
enter similar competitions and to perform at parties in and around his hometown of Arima.By age 18, he had developed a unique
chanting skill on account of his exposure to dancehall music. He soon realised that being a dancehall act in Trinidad’s
mainly soca industry was both a novelty and a liability.
As such, in late 1998 he collaborated with Daryl Braxton, a
young and very talented producer, to create a soca/dancehall track titled Send Dem Riddim Crazy.
Bunji performed the song every chance he got, and soon everyone
had caught the 'Bunji bug' and the song was everywhere. With this track, Bunji placed third at the Ragga Soca Monarch, his
first competition at a professional level.After the carnival season, he travelled the Caribbean and performed at carnival
celebrations worldwide.
On his return, he signed with IP Music International, headed
by Ian Pantin and Daryl Braxton, and began work on a full-length soca album. Bunji worked with top local producers and composed all the material. His rhythms ranged from pumping soca to Latin
flavours, and slower dancehall grooves. The Chronicles was a smashing success and helped catapult Bunji into soca superstardom.
For the 2000 carnival season, his tracks Brass, Breakaway and Bad Man enjoyed heavy
rotation on radio stations, both locally
and abroad. He performed at all major fetes and appeared in such competitions as the Soca Monarch, Young Kings and Ragga Soca
Monarch. With the track Chant Down Babylon, Bunji captured the Ragga Soca Monarch title. For Carnival 2001, Bunji continued
to promote the diversity of his lyrical gift. Blessings, a popular favourite with fans and critics alike, enjoyed a great
deal of radio airplay. Bunji collaborated with the Bajan soca band Square One on the single Ready to Get On, and also recorded
the duet Party Start with soca legend Super Blue. Bunji scored big with wins in the Ragga Soca Monarch competitions (he performed
Licks). With his monster hit Fete is Fete, Bunji secured second place at the Soca Monarch competition.
Bunji’s next offering is his first album for international
distribution, entitled Revelation. This album will again feature his trademark 'Ghetto Breed' phrases, nitty gritty lyrics
and hard-hitting rhythms. To flavour this mix, he has chosen to collaborate on some tracks, including with the internationally-renowned
R&B
group Allure on a song entitled Bump. Although he participates in and frequently wins competitions, Bunji Garlin’s
main focus is, and always will be, pleasing his audience and remaining true to his art form.
DISCOGRAPHY:
2007 - Global, 2006 - Next Direction, 2004-Graceful Vengeance, 2003-Black Spaniard, 2002-Revelation
---------------------------
Destra Garcia
(Born November 10, 1977) is a Trinidad and Tobago singer and songwriter. She specializes in the soca genre of music and
has been labeled as the "Queen of Soca". Destra is noted for her high energy performances, and superior vocal talent. The oldest of four siblings, Destra was raised in the community of Laventille
in eastern Port of Spain, and attended the St. James Secondary School where she discovered her passion for singing and music.
She not only won the Calypso Monarch title for five consecutive years at her school but, she composed every one of her songs.
At the age of 18 she joined a quartet called PSYKE which lasted for a year.
Upon the demise of the group, Destra attended the School of Business and Management earning a diploma in selling
and sales management. In 1999 Roy Cape took notice of her
single album titled - "Ah Have A Man Already" with the group Third Base and invited her to join the Roy Cape All Stars Band
as one of the lead vocalists. She went solo briefly, but eventually joined the band Atlantik in late 2002. She remains the
frontline singer for Atlantik and has forged a sucessful songwriting partnership with Kernal Roberts, churning out hits such
as "Wha Yuh Want", "Negative Vibes" and "Bonnie & Clyde".
In 2003 Destra released her first album "Red, White, Black"
which included her hit duet "It's Carnival" with Machel Montano. The song became the virtual anthem of Trinidad and Tobago
Carnival and its popularity has not fallen. Soca Fabulous Destra is famous for her style. From short shorts, to the "rockstar"
look, she has captivated audiences during her soca performances. On stage, Destra is perky and girlish, a Trinidadian version
of an American pop princess.
Her 2006 look "soca fabulous" has been created by local designers
such as Meiling and Peter Elias. From a new "glam" hairstyle, to her bold, risqué wardrobe, Destra's new look has been described
as one which "is going to rock the town and will be a fashion force to reckon with." Destra won the Road March title in 2003 at the Labour Day Carnival in Brooklyn and also placed third
in the Trinidad and Tobago Soca Monarch competition. She
is yet to win either the Road March or Soca Monarch title in her native land. Despite this, she has become an icon in the
local music industy, specializing in pop-sounding soca compositions as well as fusion music encompasing aspects of East Indian
culture. In 2006, Caribbean Beat magazine described Destra's
music as "the kind of sound that a young person,
living at the crossroads of cultures and technologies that is Trinidad
and Tobago today, is likely to produce, and the breeziness of her music may well act as an antidote to the hard edge which
often characterises life not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but in many other corners of the globe." Also in 2006, the Digicel mobile telecommunications group named Destra as its spokesperson in a two-year
partnership agreement. Albums and hits - Destra's released
her first CD in 2003, entitled Red White & Black. Her second CD, Laventille was released in 2005.
Destra is well known for hits such as "Come Beta" (featuring
Shurwayne Winchester) and "Bonnie & Clyde", released for the 2004 carnival season, and 2005 megahits "Fly" and "We Say
So". She also paid tribute to her home town in 2005 with a track entitled "The hammer Revisited", a duet with calypso veteran
David Rudder.
In 2006, Destra applied her unique flavour to the song "Aur
Chale" in conjunction with the band Dil E Nadan, and released popular hits such as "Max It Up" and "Independent Ladies". She has also recently released a song called "Jumpin'" that has already
began to hit the musical ears of listeners. With her energy and her hook, and amazing voice, she is able to attract listeners
and make them fall victim to her spellbounding music and performances.
For 2007, Destra has released the following singles; "Las Lap" featuring Naya George, "Soca or Die", "Sign" and the 'made-for-pan'
production, "We Luv Carnival", "I Dare You"
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Iwer George
A Road March contender nearly every year, Mr Neil Iwer George
seems to outdo himself every year. Producing such great hits as Bottom in the Road and Ah Home, Iwer has been able to maintain
a positive impact on carnivals around the world.
In 1987 he placed
2nd in Trinidad Road March with Boom Boom Time, and in the same year won Best Nation-Building Song with Times Hard Hold Tight.
Finally in 2000, with Carnival Come Back Again, he was able to win the Road March. Always ready to tackle controversial issues
and keep the crowd on its feet, Iwer has also won the much coveted Soca Monarch Competition. Today he performs alongside his
brother Naya George in the Invasion band, and has recently opened a local radio station in his home town of Point Fortin.
As usual,
in 2005 Iwer has released a number of hit songs including Tension and Water.
In 2006 the Iwer George hit was "We Reach", in 2007 "Fete after Fete"
was bay far the run away hit.
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Patrice Roberts
Patrice
Roberts has been singing professionally since the tender age of eight.
Roberts, who is also a model and tenor steel pannist,
is descended from a musical family. She was educated at Toco AC School and Toco Composite School, where she was a Form Five
student.
Though young in years, Roberts has the background of a seasoned performer. The Sangre Grande Junior Calypso Monarch
Competition, which she won in 1995, was her first professional singing experience, but she realised her true calling as a
performer when she participated in her first National Junior Calypso competition at age fifteen.
In 2000, she became a top finalist in the competition, marking
her ascent in the calypso arena. The year 2001 was also memorable for Roberts where she became the National Soca Monarch,
the National Library Calypso Monarch and the National Junior Calypso Monarch, which she won again in 2002.
Other career highlights include Toco Personality Winner 2000;
U.N.D.P. second-runner up 2001; second-runner up in both the Junior Soca and Junior Calypso Monarch competitions; finalist
in the International Soca Monarch competition in 2003 and 2004. Roberts has graced stages across the globe, performing at London’s Royal Opera House, the Barbados Crop Over
Festival, the Miami Junior Carnival and several New York venues like K.C.’s Hideaway, the Elite Ark, the Brooklyn Center
for the Performing Arts, The Brooklyn Museum and The Afrika House, where she performed amongst such noted talents as Queen
Singing Sandra, the legendary Black Stalin, the Mighty Sparrow and Jamaica’s Hopeton Lewis.
In
December 2003, Roberts’ debut CD, Blossoming, was released. She co-wrote the album with the popular calypsonian, Impulse.
Patrice teamed up with Machel Montano in 2006 to sing the big Road March tune
"Band of De Year". Congratulations.
In 2007 Patrice teamed up with Machel Montano again for another hit entitled "One More Time".
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Shurwayne Winchester
Undoubtedly blessed with a singer's voice, a quick wit
and an ability to make pictures with music was born on February 8th, 1974 in Tobago. His talents first came to light in 1996, when he was only twelve years old and began competing in local
calypso competitions, where he consistently placed within the top three. He participated in these local competitions until
1990, when he was encouraged to compete against seasoned veterans, such as Calypso Queen Denyse Plummer, Calypso Monarchs
Cro Cro and Luta in the Carib Independence Calypso Competition. As a result of his performance, he was hired for various calypso
tents both in Trinidad and Tobago from 1980 through 1996.
In 1996, Shurwayne joined the band "TROBBLE", but the band was short lived.
Upon its
demise, he was asked to join "INXS". One year later, Shurwayne auditioned for Spectakula, one of the largest "Calypso Tents"
for Carnival.
Spectakula's management felt that he would be better showcased as a front line
singer for a soca band,
and recommended him to Andy Joseph, bandleader of "Traffik". His first recording was made
in 1998, with the tracks "Leave it in" and "Soca Baby" with Traffik. His voice caught the attention of record producer Devon
George. Then he recorded "Get out of my dreams" written to Marlon "Socket" Clarke. The song, released in December 1998, remained
in rotation for two years until July 2000 a rarity in the Soca genre! 1999 saw Shurwayne
back in competition this time, the sweet voiced singer entered the Soca Monarch Stakes.
His performance garnered rave reviews and was deemed "Most Dynamic" by the press. Shurwayne
became the heartthrob of soca, both locally and internationally among West Indian markets. In My, he recorded a remix of "Quelvis"
by and with King Wellington for the album "Rumour Riddims". His overdub is credited with sending the song to the top of the
charts within one week. This song remained on the charts for seven months. Shurwayne has five additional tracks written by
him on the album. His 1999/2000 releases "Avanelle", "Wine Down" and "Who Say" which were
also written by him exceeded his previous successes. Released in November 1999 "Wine Down" stayed on the charts until mid
August 2000, while his up-tempo "Who-Say" released in December 1999, climbed the charts quickly and remained hit through
October 2000.
On October 21, 2000 Shurwayne was awarded "Best New Artist" and "Male Vocalist of the Year"
at the Sunshine Music Awards, New York. In late October he released "Why yuh blaming me?" which hit the charts the following
week. In November he released "Jouvay Jump Up" which followed the same path, and "You Make Me Wanna" (a.k.a. So Hot) this
became an instant favorite. "Release the Beast" and his challenge tune "Revenge" joined
the others on the charts in January. "You make me." Stayed on the charts thru August 2001. These five songs were all
written by Shurwayne. His first solo album "Under My Spell" was released in January 2002.
Two cuts from the album "Splash" and "Doctor on Call" were also hits for Carnival 2002. The first release for Carnival
2003 was "Baby Love". It took off immediately, and became of the requested songs for the ladies. "Masqueraders" was the second release, and was a contender for Road March. Shortly thereafter a third song "Front"
was released. It took the airwaves by storm, and was the most requested song by Shurwayne. Both men and women showed their
love for the melody and lyrical structure, which again took him to the finals of the Soca Monarch.
He collaborated with Chinese Laundry and Ricky Jai on his composition "Rags Don't Care",
a fast nation building and unity song, which was respected by both artistes and fans alike. "Powder" was his J'ouvert contribution
and hit the charts on West Indian radio stations in North America. In 2004 he released his
second album titled "Press Play" featuring his 2004 Road March song "The Band Coming". Shurwayne walked away with three awards
at the Annual Soca Awards held in
New York in August 2004. He won the award for Best New Soca Collaboration of the year
for the song "Come Beta" with Destra Garcia. Shurwayne also won the award for Favorite Up-Tempo of the Year-Male and Soca
Vocalist of the Year.
Shurwayne did it again in 2005, winning the Road March title two years in a row with his infectious
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