|
|
DISCLAIMER
The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in this article are those of the authors and shall not be deemed to mean that they are necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, the editor, writers, contributors or staff. |
IS RAS KELLY A GREEDY MAN, A THIEF OR A LIAR?
(Some say all of the above.)
 |
| The Small Axe Band with Ras Kelly (organge shirt) at happier times. | It was not the intension of the band to reveal the dirty, greedy and selfish ways of Ras Kelly to the public in spite of what happen. He maliciously attacked the Small Axe Band firstly in one of the local news papers saying all manner of things.
The band had no other choice but to retaliate in self defense.
====================
In 1999 Ras Kelly join the Small Axe Band with the impression that he loves music but later was discovered that it wasn't music he loves but MONEY!
Yes everyone in some form has a bit of love for money because of our needs but Ras Kelly blew it, he is just outrageously GREEDY!!
In every organization there are ups and downs, good and bad, slow and fast times.
Small Axe Band in the days when Ras Kelly was a member, consists of 8 members. The policy of the band from the time it started some 26 years ago, is to work with in a reasonable and generous manner with our clients, which means that if someone hire the band and at the end of the gig is wasn't profitable because of (act of God) rain etc, then Small Axe Band would then negotiate a reasonable fee to compensate for trucking etc. The other members of the band, being reasonably minded would then accept a cut in their payment for that gig but not the Greedy man (Ras Kelly). He insisted and I repeat insisted NO MATTER WHAT, WEATHER THE BAND MAKE IT OR NOT HE WANT HIS FULL PAYMENT. HE DON'T CARE IF WHO HIRE THE BAND MAKE IT OR NOT!
Well we can't vex with him, he worked and he must be paid but we only point out this to show you THE SATANIC GREED in that man!
THE FORGED CHECK
Is this theft, a deceitful liar or just plain old GREED? Read on.
On the 25th September, 2006 the Small Axe Band wrote a check of $400.00 to Ras Kelly for payment due to him for performing with the band. The band was booked to travel to the United States the following week (6th October 2006 to perform in Miami. A few days before the band traveled Ras Kelly went to Daddy Bougna and told him that he LOST the check that was written to him and if he can write him another check with an addition of $100.00 that he said the band owed him. Daddy Bougna being an honest and generous guy believe him and therefore wrote him another check of $500.00, $400.00 of which previous check was written for and the additional $100.00 that he said the band owed him.
The day the band was traveling to the United States, both Ras Kelly and Daddy Bougna sat side by side on the flight to Miami when Ras Kelly boldly revealed to Daddy Bougna that the check the Band wrote to him for $400.00 that he said was lost, he had found it and cashed it along with the other check of $500.00 which brings the total to $900.00.
Having a bit of doubt from his story at first, we tried to stop payment of that particular check but unfortunately he managed to cash it before the process of stopping it was completed.
Jesus Christ!! (Sorry to call the lord name in vain) Is this man Ras Kelly for real? How greedy can he get?
Anyway, you don't have to take our word for it but you can see for your self copies of the checks that were written to Ras (Greedy) Kelly.
You won't see Ras Kelly on the check because Ras Kelly is just a nick-name, but the name you see on the check is his correct name.
FIRST CHECK THAT WAS WRITTEN TO RAS KELLY
SECOND CHECK THAT WAS WRITTEN TO RAS KELLY
ROAD MARCH PRIZE MONEY
As we continue to mention that Small Axe Band has policies, rules and regulations. It is one of the band's policies that any music, that is presented to the Small Axe Band by any member of the band, may it be lyrics, a complete song or just a demo of a melody on tape, CD etc, and it is to be recorded on Small Axe Band Carnival album, that the band has full rights and ownership of that material (song (s) and therefore has the rights to reasonably negotiate what royalties one may claim from his or her input.
2006 Carnival came upon us as we hurdled together and compiled what material (songs) we had, to produce one of the best album which won SMALL AXE BAND (not Ras Kelly) the Road March. All expenses to produce the 2006 -2007 carnival album were provided by Small Axe Band (not Ras Kelly). Of all the members in the band, Ras Kelly was the ONLY one that got paid, DEMANDING to be paid, for missing days from his work, when all the other members also missed days from their work. Nothing is wrong with paying a member or members of the band for missing days from their work to assist in the recording, because that was part of the plan to compensate the members for loosing days from work but it's the way Ras (Greedy) Kelly did it.
Carnival went and SMALL AXE BAND (not Ras Kelly) as I said before won the Road March. The Road March prize was a check of $7, 500. 00 (which you can view below) that was written to SMALL AXE BAND (not Ras Kelly) but strangely enough on the prize giving night, Ras Kelly was the one that jumped forward without permission (in front of any senior member or manager of the band), and accepted the check.
Ok we said, he is part of the band so that's cool not realizing he had a greedy plan in mind, to hold on to the check until he DEMANDED what amount he would like to get from it.
To our surprise days passed without any information about the check. The check was still in Ras Kelly's possession which we thought he would have handed over to the Manager by then. The following week the band had its general monthly meeting and everyone was invited. On the night of the meeting we discussed the ups and downs of Carnival and most of all important issues of the band for the future. Almost to the conclusion of the meeting we were expecting Ras Kelly to produce the Road March prize check to the manager but realized that no effort was made to do so. The manager then ask Ras Kelly where is the check? Ras Kelly said he has it at home. Home?.....the manager asked; why home didn't you know you were coming to the meeting tonight so you can bring it? Ras Kelly said he will get it to him sometime soon.
We discussed also how the Road March check was to be divided. We said a percentage will go to Small Axe Band to help clear what outstanding debt or bills the band might have and the balance would be divided among the band members with an additional bonus given to Ras Kelly considering he wrote PART of the song and arranged it, still bearing in mind that other members of the band performed in that same song on the album also.
With an outrage he decided he don't want it like that and he is DEMANDING $3, 000.00 for him self, still forgetting that is Small Axe Band pay all expenses to produce the album, which came to a ruff total of $27, 044.04. Also forgetting for that same SMALL AXE BAND song that Mr. World registered, which allowed him to perform on the night of the Soka Monarch show, also earned him $4, 000. 00 of which he alone keeps without any questions asked.
The band members told him clearly that they think $3, 000. 00 for him self alone from the Road March prize is over the limit, therefore he should consider something more reasonable knowing that the band have bill to pay and other band member deserved something for their input also. With negotiation he came to a conclusion of accepting $1, 500. 00 but was not pleased.
A COPY OF THE ROAD MARCH PRIZE CHECK
SPONSORSHIP MONEY
During the 2006-2007 carnival the Small Axe Band was sponsored by Cable and Wireless and received a monetary settlement of $10, 000. 00.
From the beginning of the agreement we decided when the check was received, we'll without hesitation, forward the amount to F.N.D. as loan payment.
We have learned that Ras Kelly is speculating, the check that was received from Cable & Wireless, was divided among three members of the band (Mr. World, Daddy Bougna and the Manager). That is absolutely incorrect!! The Check was lodged to the band's account and then a check was written from the band to F. N. D. of $10, 000. 00
Below is a copy of the check that was written to F.N.D. So who is the liar?
Ras Kelly is also accusing the Manager of theft but each member of the band have full trust in the manager. From the time he started managing, the band has improved 100% thanks to him.
 |
|
STOLEN OR ILLEGALLY SOLD ITEMS FROM THE BAND
As the keyboard player of the band at that time Ras Kelly had full access to the band house that is located in Old Road. He had his own keys which allow him to be in and out as he pleased.
During the course of time that Ras Kelly was in possession of the Band House keys we observed that instruments from the band house were missing mysteriously and when ask Ras Kelly if he knew anything about them sometimes he would say he have what ever was missing at home. You may hear me repeat that the Small Axe Band have policies, some of which are, no band member is allowed to take or remove any piece of equipment out of the band house without permission from at least three other band member but Ras Kelly continually doing it with the impression that he is using them at home, not knowing that he is SELLING THEM!!!
In a conversation one night outside the band house with a guy that said he was forming a band and ask if we have anything else (instrument) to sell and I ask him what exactly is he looking for and when he said anything else to sell, if he had bought something from the band already. He then told me he already bought a MACKIE 24 CHANNEL MIXER from us (Small Axe Band) that Ras Kelly sold him for $900. 00 E.C.
|
Picture of the mixer that was sold |
It was a surprise when he told me that he bought a mixer from Small Axe Band, that no other band member (except Ras Kelly) had any knowledge of. Ras Kelly has not at anytime presented any money to the band for the mixer or any other illegally sold items.
To this present day several items have been missing from the band house that he said he has at home and can't present or returned to the band house which brings us to a speculative conclusion that Ras Kelly either have them in his possession still or illegally sold.
Adding to the speculation, Menty, one of the Small Axe Band lead singer, was in the vicinity of the band house one day and saw the doors open and decided to inquire. To his surprise he caught Ras Kelly red handed selling one of the Small Axe Band drum sets (an electronic drum set). If in doubt, you can ask Menty in person at any time.
Below are pictures of just a FEW band equipment that Ras Kelly either sold illegally or still have in his possession for the Small Axe Band.
The stolen items included:
2 EV Eliminator speakers
2) QSC PLX 3402 AMPS
1) Mpc4000 drum machine
1) Qsc 1500w power amp
1) Behringer Eurodesk mixer
1) Proteus sound module
1) Roland D50 Key Board
1) Yamaha DTX drum set
1) Samson Studio amplifier
RAS KELLY REFUSED TO SUPPORT THE UNDER 20 TEAM TO MEXICO
We must also mention that Small Axe Band has a tradition of also playing for charity. We were contacted to play for a gig to help support our own under 20 foot ball team to Mexico which took place at the Cable & Wireless grounds. To our (Small Axe Band) surprise, on the same day the event were to took place, Ras Kelly call the manager and said he will not be playing for that function because of injuries to his hand.
Not wanting to let-down our boys (the under 20 team to Mexico) and eagerly want to assist in the fund raising, management decided that Daddy Bougna who have some years experience playing key boards will have to do something quickly in order to show our support and pull Small Axe Band out of the mess that Ras Kelly in his mind thought he would of put the band in.
Daddy Bougna, the Bass player of the band agreed to play the Key Boards in order to complete the fun raising mission that we were hired for. The band played with the assistant of former bass player (Cannon) who jump on board in short notice. Thanks to Cannon.
The following day the band was engaged to travel to Virgin Gorder to perform. The manager then ask Ras Kelly what's his position if he can make it to play and his reply was no. Again Daddy Bougna played the Key Boards with the assistant of another bass musician (floyde) due to the fact that Cannon who played the night before was not equipped with the necessary travel document. Thanks to Floyde.
The following week Monday, management ask Ras Kelly how his injuries were progressing and he said his hand was still swollen. The manager told him the band will give him an opportunity to let his injuries completely heal, before he return to his position of playing the key boards. In that period, the band will continue to play as is for one more week.
The following day Tuesday the manager received a text from him insisting he wants to practice that night in spite of his so call swollen injured hand. Why it is he suddenly wants to practice with his injured hand that is still swollen?
Was he faking injuries just to deliberately avoid playing FOR FREE to assist the Under 20 football team? Well! Well! Well! Guess if MONEY was involved then he would have gladly played! Later the Manager received another text from Ras Kelly saying he quit, he finish with the band!! && just like that!!!
SABOTAGE AND THREAT
People asked, why did Ras Kelly had so much power in Small Axe Band? Often times threatening and sabotaging the band. The answer to that may be Greed, hate envy or power seeking.
The band experienced several sabotage and threat by Ras Kelly. An example of one sabotage, is when the band was engaged in a band clash with several other bands behind the old Treasury building a few years ago.
The income at the gate was divided immediately among the bands, as portions of money were collected. It was Small Axe Band turn to play, when to our surprise the small minded man Ras Kelly, selfishly decided that he will not play no matter what, because he did not like how the system sound.
Daddy Bougna, manager of the band at that time, ran towards the stage and almost with tears in his eyes start begging and pleading to Ras Kelly to try his best and adjust the sound close enough so the fans can still enjoy a bit of Small Axe Band for that night. Ras Kelly insisted loud and clear HE WILL NOT PLAY. So, Small Axe Band did not played that night because of one "all-fu-u-self " selfish guy.
The money that was already collected in the region of over $5,000.00, which would have been Small Axe Band share, had to be given back to the other bands who played, just because selfish minded Ras Kelly decided he was not playing. Giving back the monies to the other bands that played, in my opinion, was fair, honest and just on Small Axe Band behalf.
May God help the musical organization that Ras Kelly is presently with!!
Often times he will threaten the band FINANCIALLY, demanding if he cant get x amount of money, the band will have to get a new keyboard player. Ras (Greedy) Kelly was the HIGHEST PAID MEMBER of the band, in spite he was only with the band a few years compare to the 26 years Naddy, Daddy Bougna and then Mr. World came shortly after.
Imagine Mr. World, Naddy and Daddy Bougna who would make sacrifices each year, march in the bank, stand for loans, in order for the band to sound and perform good at Carnival time, have to accept far less than what Ras (Greedy) Kelly would get. Can you imagine that??
What he was doing (play keyboards, program beats and arranging songs) was what Daddy Bougna was doing as a musician, before the moneysician Ras (Greedy) Kelly came.
Some may think Ras Kelly is who build Small Axe Band but it's the band that build Ras (Greedy) Kelly.
An example is:
Ras Kelly came met the band already won Road March before! Ras Kelly came met the band with good system (musical equipment)! Ras Kelly came met the band already traveling! Ras Kelly came met the band with thousands of fans that over the years get less and less because of him. Last but not least, Ras Kelly came met the band have the ladies getting on bad, bad, bad dancing away! No one is saying that he didn't do his bit but he came met it already going on!!
Ras Kelly relationship with other band members
For many years former members of the band has left and on one occasion some were dismissed because of Ras Kelly. The members that left include bass players, guitar players and lead vocalist.
Members found out the nasty, selfish and greedy ways of Ras Kelly and decided it was impossible, to work with such a negative and selfish minded person and were force to leave. Those that were expelled, it was done to protect Ras Kelly being exposed of his nasty selfish ways. (Small Axe did all of that for him).
Imagine on several occasions while the band performing members would assist in the sound engineering of the band by telling Ras Kelly the music was either too loud or one of the microphones wants to be turned up and selfishly his reply to them would be
F#@K Off!! Can you imagine that?
How can anyone work with such a person?
The band was unable to practice as often as they would like to, because of Ras Kelly's selfish attitude. Other members would show up to practice around 7 -7:30pm but instead Ras Kelly engage in practicing with the other guys, he prefer to spend hours shooting pool at a near by restaurant and leave the band members outside sitting on a wall. When he thinks he had enough pool shooting about 10-10:30pm, that is the time he thinks he can just snap his fingers and the band members should lap their tails and run to practice. Who he thinks he is???? Very unprofessional!!!
For those reasons band members neglect practicing for weeks which causes the band to loose steam.
Now that he left, the guys can't wait for night to come so they can practice. When the band starts practicing, almost the whole village would come to the band house just to hear the rehearsal.
MORE GREED OVER LIVE CD SALE
Most people may not know when a Small Axe Band live CD is produced and being sold, that all the income from that CD sale has gone to one and I repeat ONE person only&&you don't even have to bother ask&&.yes Ras (Greedy) Kelly. He will use the band's equipment to record the session that other band members also performed on and sell that live CD, keep all the money and don't even offer a dime to other band members or donate something to the band, to help pay bills. Is this man posses over money?
Well let him try to record more live music where he presently is, sell the CDs and keep all the money to him self!! I bet it can't happen with the Rasta Man!!!!
REAL MUSIC FOR REAL PEOPLE
In the past it was observed that something was wrong why less and less people attending dances and why it took so long for people to come on the dance floor in spite of all the so-call sweet rhythms that (Ras Kelly) was playing. Was it because his style of playing was 98 % rhythm and 2 % music?
For a better example, the band played several times at the Lantern in Sandy Point while Ras Kelly was playing keyboards and to each time the band played the crowd got less and less and less and less. Maybe those nights were bad nights as well as maybe the music just wasn't touching the people.
On the 27th January, 2007 the band played at Club N. V. and it was a disaster the way he was playing. Before the dance had come to an end 95% of the people WALK OUT! Yes I said WALK OUT on the band because of the garbage he (the band) was playing.
NOW!! &WOW!&..
The band played at the lantern on the 17th February 2007, with a new and complete setting and oh my gosh, it was an improvement compare to the last several dances that was held at the lantern. When the band stopped playing, everyone was waiting and asking for more!! No one leave until almost an hour after just because they enjoyed them selves so much. They even created a new slogan that night "REAL MUSIC FOR REAL PEOPLE" that we adopted.
So everyone is now back in the dance hall with SMALL AXE BAND enjoying real music for their monies worth.
What a relief!!!
NEW NICK-NAME FOR RAS KELLY
His new band colleagues that he is presently with, gave him a new nick name because of his HIGH HEEL SHOES that he wore. The name is: "SPICE GIRL" &&are they laughing or trying to make a fool of him??? Time will tell!
PSALMS 32:10 &.Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
==========================================================================
All of the statements above are the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help us God.
SIGN: SMALL AXE BAND
|
DISCLAIMER
The statements, opinions and points of view expressed in this article are those of the authors and shall not be deemed to mean that they are necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, the editor, writers, contributors or staff. |
|
Entertainment 
Archives |
Print
Email
Save
RSS
