Calypso Music

Music in Dominica:

Calypso

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YOUNG BULL
Val 'Young Bull' Cuffy is a larger-than-life character - literally! In fact, his 1992 album 'Too Fat To Soca' almost summed it all up. Although his new vegetarian lifestyle has helped shed 60 lbs, his stage presence is still considerable.

Trained as a Pharmacist and an experienced Event Coordinator, he began his musical career managing calypsonians like Wizard and Scrunter. In 1991 he began singing Carnival 'road march' songs. By 1992 he was organising the popular pre-Carnival Stardom Tent.

No stranger to controversy, the 1994 'Bonda Ma Jacques' song acheived what the 1991 'Chew My Pocket' threatened to do - being banned from the airwaves!
There have been two other albums besides 'Too Fat To Soca': 'Just Because' (1995) and 'Soca Mix' (1996).

He made the Calypso Finals in 2003, Soca Monarch 1997 and performed across the region, New York, London and Canada. There have been several Albums to date and also compilations with other Artist. He has been dubbed the sexiest Fatman alive... Contact him! (767) 449 8600/275 8601 e-mail: socabull69@hotmail.com.

DERICK ST.ROSE-DE HUNTER
Hunter started singing calypso in 1988 at Portsmouth in Dominica. He then started competing in the National Competition three years later.

He has made it to the finals many times, and is presently the reigning Calypso King of Dominica and Mas Domnik 2000. Hunter has competed in the Soca Monarch of the world competition in Trinidad where he reached the semi- finals. He is known to have started the soca music trend in Dominican Calypso.

Hunter is by far the Soca Master in Dominica. Hunter is a Police Officer with the special unit in Dominica. He has brought us hits like "Soca Lollipop",One People","Wom la (The Rum)," and Take a Wine.

He has produced three albums joint with the Scrunter but this year Hunter released his album entitled "Soca Lollipop," Solo. This album is making a huge impact on the local and regional market and is by far one of the better albums released for the 2000 Carnival Season, Hunter also won the Caribbean Quest Musical Award for the Best New Calypso Artist for 1997. He has toured countries like North America, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antigua, Trinidad and the French West Indies. He is considered to be the most up and coming artist in Dominica.

Hunter is managed by his wife Marah St. Rose.

Contact Telephone Numbers are 767 449 8050 home and 767 448 2222 ext 5191 work.

Excerpt from 'Soccer By Night' from 'Soca Mix '96' (RealAudio 16 sec.)

LAZO

Lazarus (Lazo) Finn hails from Castle Bruce, Dominica. He has produced several albums including "Something Real", "Impetus" and "Heart and Soul", the latter winning the Year 2000 Juno Award for Best Reggae Recording.

You can visit his web site here.

THE WIZZARD
Merlin "Wizzard" St.Hilaire started of as a church musician at the Canefield Catholic Church. He first took part in the carnival Calypso competition in 1988 and placed 2nd. One year later he won the carnival Calypso competition, singing Feed my Brother and Young an' Restless. In 1989 he placed 2nd in the Independence Calypso competition. Retaining the Carnival Calypso king title in 1990, he represented Dominica at the 1990 Caribbean Broadcasting Union Song Festival in Jamaica and placed 2nd. He also won the first ever Dominica/New York Independence Calypso Competition in Brooklyn USA.

Young 'N Restless (RealAudio clip,30 secs., 136kb)

This CD is a compilation of new hits and known favorites. A true collectors item! It costs US$ 15.00 (s&h) included for US domestic. For USD 19.00 it can be mailed internationally. The Caribbean distributor is Ashwax Records; Available in NY at Moodies records in the Bronx and in London @ Tan Tan Records (10a Northwold Rd, Stoke Newington, London N16 7HR.)

To order direct Call 718 537 2384 or email wizz8990@aol.com

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