Author: Ernest Gyedu
DeeVine is a three-time award nominee versatile Artist born in London and raised in Barbados from the age of six. In April 2011, she came onto the UK Soca scene with her powerful Caribbean vocals. DeeVine has been singing and dancing from the age of 8 when her father bought her a keyboard, from then she started writing songs. She sang Soprano in the school choir at Parkinson Secondary School in Barbados, where she attended until the age of 17. During her secondary school years she formed a dance group, performing at school concerts and local shows. At age 17 she became a member of a Soca Band…
The accomplished and “tight” ACASA All-Stars Band comprises of Felix Ruiz, the Music Director and Keyboardist, Trevor Walker, Trumpeter, Colin Huntley, Drummer, TJ Johnson, Guitarist, Michael Ruiz, Bassist, David Bitelli, Saxophonist, David Lalljee, Trombonist, and Eric Young, Percussionist. The versatile Band has backed all artistes performing Calypso, Soca, and other Caribbean music genres.
Masterlink began writing Calypso at an early age and performed under the sobriquet “The Mighty Puzzle” in Trinidad & Tobago until 1978 when he changed to his current stage name to reflect the link and passage across the Atlantic of ancestors from Africa to the Americas. Masterlink made it to the finals in the Southern Brigade and went on to record his Calypso music, his first being “Freedom in We Hand”, which he performed in St. Lucia, Canada and his beloved Grenada. He made his London Calypso Tent debut in 2013 and continues to demonstrate his ability to hold his…
Clivus who joined The ABC London Calypso Tent in 1998, hit the ground running and performed in different venues. Proud to be the first Calypsonian to represent Anguilla in the Tent. His first visit to Anguilla, having been born in England gave an insight into the art form. Inspiration from other Anguillan artistes such as Pulfero, Chinnicks, King Leo, Lucifer (Shermatt) and other from the region e.g., Lord Short Shirt, King Swallow, Socrates, and Springer have contributed to his growth as a performer. Clivus states: “I hope to thrill the audiences of our Tent with my style of Calypso and…
Musicman was born in Georgetown St. Vincent and the Grenadines with music in his soul, and started composing and singing from an early age. He moved to the UK in 2002 to further his music career, becoming a member of The ABC in 2003. Greatly influenced by Bob Marley, he developed his own style and image, composing and performing songs from Reggae to Calypso and Raggamuffin to Soca, many of which reflect the state of the world today covering such topics as pollution, Aids, crime and politics. His songs reveal a commitment to the Rastafarian culture, philosophy and beliefs. He…
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Alexander grew up in London. On leaving school he became a professional musician/songwriter. He spent a year in the USA playing with a 50 – piece band. There he learned to arrange and orchestrate, after which he took a BA in Music at Dartington College, followed by a PGCE at Roehampton. He has taught music at all levels, including musicianship and composition at Brunel University and lectured on Calypso at the universities of Huddersfield, Leeds, Nottingham, Queen’s University, Belfast and Morley College, London. In 1998 he wrote a one – act calypso opera, “Rumshop” staged at London’s Lyric…
Brown Sugar, originally from Trinidad & Tobago hails from Oxford. She has been involved in gospel singing from childhood but branched over to the beloved Calypso genre in her teens. Encouraged and spurred on by a co-worker, she entered her first Calypso competition in 1995 at her then workplace, The Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago. In the UK, Brown Sugar started singing with AJ’s Calypso tent, Reading in 2003 and joined the ABC in 2004. She prides herself representing women in Calypso and is a two-time UK Calypso Monarch and twice won the Groovy Soca competition. She was runner-up…
Rev B .is a master wordsmith he never fails to impress with messages that capture the zeitgeist and provokes much debate amongst listeners. Perceived as the conscience of The ABC membership, the debonair Rev B is consistently masterful with both credible and professional renditions. A Master of Ceremonies for ACUK-The ABC when not performing at The Tent, Rev B continues to produce Calypso as well as promote the wider Carnival arts both in his homeland Trinidad and current home in Oxford.
Gisselle is one of ABC’s strong queens. As a former Calypso and Soca Monarch she has proven to have an adaptable style. One of the artistes determined to take the art to another level here in the UK, Gisselle has performed at various festivals to rave reviews.