Superblue turns 64 Reggae phenom Etana releases ‘Gemini’
“Soca Baptist” also won Superblue
his first Carnival Road March
Monarch in 1980, while giving
him the biggest win at that time
— “though the magnitude of
that win would be dwarfed by his
own subsequent landslide victories,”
the biography says.
It says Supeblue went on to
win the annual Carnival Road
March title nine times (in 1980,
1981 and 1983 he won under the
moniker Blue Boy, and as Superblue
in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995,
2000 and 2013) and the Trinidad
Soca Monarch (now the International
Soca Monarch) title a
record seven times.
The biography says that Superblue
is famous for wearing blue
costumes and dancing on top of
speaker boxes.
“He developed a reputation for
performing daring antics while
on stage for the Soca Monarch
competitions,” it says.
Superblue’s daughter, Fay-
Ann Lyons, whose mother is
calypsonian Lady Gypsy, is herself
a well-known soca musician
(composer and performer), who
has already, at a young age ,won
three Road March Monarch titles
(2003, 2008 and 2009) and who
performs at both local and foreign
carnival events, according
to the biography.
It says Superblue recorded the
song “Clear de Road” with Fay-
Ann and that they performed
it together for the International
Soca Monarch competition in
2004. They did not place in the
top ten, however.
Since his Soca Monarch win in
2000, the biography says Superblue
“remained out of the winners’
circle musically until 2011 when
he received the SAO Hall of Fame
Award for his body of work.
“He continues to record music,
and his earlier songs are still held
to be classic soca compositions,
used in Panorama competitions
even in recent times,” the biography
Caribbean L 28 ife, June 26-July 2, 2020
says.
It says Superblue made “a triumphant
return” to the Soca
Monarch stage in 2013 with his
song “Fantastic Friday”, capturing
the International Power Soca
Monarch title in a tie with the
defending champion, Machel
Montano.
The biography says SuperBlue
is hailed as “the originator
of the ‘jump and wave’ style of
soca songs” and is also “credited
by the benefactor of the International
Soca Monarch, William
Munro, to have played a major
role in the success of that competition
in the early years.”
The song “Barbara” by
Superblue was played as background
music in the movie Side
Streets (1998), the biography
says.
contemporaries.”
Born Andre Johnson on
May 2, 1988, Dre Island said
he hails from the Red Hills
Road section of Kingston, the
Jamaican capital, “known to
be a rougher part of town
where gunshots and crime are
in abundance.”
At the tender age of three,
Dre Island said his father
asked him what he wanted to
do when he grows up, according
to his biography.
He said his answer was one
word “Piano!” His grandmother
nurtured his interest in
music, and encouraged him
by bringing him to church
to sing in the choir and take
piano lessons.
By 12, Dre Island said he
was already adopting a rebellious
spirit, sneaking out of
the house at night to attend
local stage shows.
By the time he attended the
elite Calabar High School, he
said he started taking his craft
more serious.
He said his artist name Dre
Island came when a friend,
who referred to him in that
way. Once introduced to the
studio, a young Dre said
he observed keenly the ins
and outs of every facet of
the recording process, while
developing a talent for production
using his classical
piano training.
His professional journey
working as a producer in some
of Jamaica’s top recording studios
led Dre to successfully
complete projects and gain
notoriety.
With the experience garnered
as a producer, and an
unwavering support from
family and friends, Dre Island
said he made the transition to
a recording artist, releasing
his first single “Reggae Love,”
in 2013.
His first big performance
Album cover of “Now I Rise.”
took place around the same
time at Rebel Salute, one of
Jamaica’s largest music festivals,
known for its focus on
roots and conscious music.
Dre Island said the local
buzz, fueled by live acoustic
performances posted on
YouTube, garnered an international
fan base that demanded
more from him.
But it wasn’t until several
years later that Dre penned
his first bonafide hit song
“We Pray”, featuring Popcaan,
which has over 27 million
views to date on Youtube.
In 2018, he headlined
Jamaica Sumfest, the island’s
largest international stage
show.
Dre Island said the success
and notoriety of international
stardom have fueled his mission
to complete a full album:
The result being “Now I Rise,”
a comprehensive vision of his
career so far.
Through a steady stream of
hit singles Dre Island said he
has captured the attention of
fans from around the world
who are drawn to his “inescapable
authenticity and stone
cherished voice.”
He said his superb musicianship
and revolutionary vocals
have been “shaking sound system
speakers for many years
now,” adding that “a growing
anticipation” has paved the
way for his debut album.
“Now I Rise” was released
on May 29.
Continued from Page 27
Continued from Page 27
listeners.”
She said “Gemini” focuses
on emotions, touches on selfcare,
and explores relationships,
in particular staying
together.
Driven said the album
comprises a 12-track “ode to
love in a variety of expressions.”
During the past couple of
months, she said Etana and
her team, Zojak World Wide,
prepared for an extensive rollout
to ensure “Gemini’s” success
for “Gemini.”
“Etana did the ting again!”
Etana said. “The album rocks
like mawe.” Long nights of
planning and execution
behind the scenes showed
today as the album has gotten
much acclaim.
“All the hard work the
past few months has paid off,
and I hope it continues,” she
added. “in the current revolution
in Black Lives Matter, I
want my album to help bring
happiness to the protesters
and people around the earth
looking for reasons to smile
more.
“With the official ‘Gemini’
horoscope season about the
shift to Cancer, it’s not too late
to turn your favorite streaming
platform on and give the
album a listen,” Etana urged.
Driven said Etana “has
dropped an LP for the ages
and one that is needed to
bring more love during tough
times in the world.”
Continued from Page 27
‘NOW I RISE’
Grammy-nominated Reggae phenom, Etana. Marie Driven /
PlaybookMG