BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FORMER Trinidad Soca Monarch winners, power couple Faye Ann Lyons-Alvarez and her husband Ian Alvarez, a.k.a. Bunji Garlin, are also among the list of artistes for this year’s Music Festival.
According to a reliable source close to the festival, signing of contracts and finalising the artistes for the nights should be finished early this week, after which major announcements should be made.
The 10-time Calypso King and seven-time Road March winner of St. Kitts, Elston ‘Ellie Matt’ Nero, is also a name that may appear on the final schedule for the 14th annual St. Kitts Music Thursday night’s (Jun. 24) Festival lineup.
Ellie Matt has been one that many have questioned as to why he has not yet appeared on the festival over its 14-year of existence.
The source said it was better late than never and that they are sure he would put out a memorable performance that he was known for in the past.
Bunji Garlin, born July 14, 1978, is a Ragga Soca artiste from Trinidad and Tobago. He has won Trinidad's Soca Monarch competition on several occasions; 2002 (tied with Iwer George) with ‘Down in the Ghetto’, 2004 with ‘Warrior Cry’, 2005 with ‘Blaze the Fire’. Both songs were produced by then band member Shawn Noel (Da Ma$tamind). He also won in 2008 with ‘Fiery’.
He married fellow Soca artiste Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, who is the daughter of legendary Soca singer Superblue.
In 2009, he placed second in the International Soca Monarch with ‘Clear De Road’, while his pregnant wife won the competition with ‘Meet Super Blue’. She also won the Groovy Soca Monarch title that same night with ‘Heavy T Bumpa’.
The couple had their first daughter on February 28, 2009. Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez, born November 5, 1980, sometimes known by such titles as the Lyon Empress, Mane the Matriach and the Silver Surfer, is a Trinidadian Soca recording artiste/performer. Fay Ann was born in Point Fortin, Trinidad to parents Austin Lyons (SuperBlue) and Lynette Steele (Lady Gypsy).
Fay Ann is a three-time Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Road March champion (2003, 2008, 2009). She created history when she won the International Soca Monarch for the first time in 2009, as the first female to win the Power category and the first individual to win the Power,
Groovy and People's Choice awards on Fantastic Friday (a.k.a. Carnival Friday) at the annually held competition in Trinidad.
She is also the first woman to accomplish that win while pregnant. She is now the youngest solo artiste (male or female) still actively recording and with multiple Road March wins.
Ellie Matt began his career in 1971 on the birth of National Carnival and said he was influenced by Joey Lewis of Trinidad and Tobago.
His first official composition was ‘Play Your Mass All Over Town for Carnival’ in 1971.
Now he suffers from kidney problems and is currently awaiting a matching donor for a future transplant operation. He was first introduced to music by steel pan, by his eldest brother Joseph (Boy Blue) Esdaille.
He was tutored in playing the guitar by the Bertie Brothers and Sammy Watts in St. Kitts, but learned to play the keyboard and bass guitar on his own.
Nero is an accomplished musical arranger, composer, band leader, calypsonian and has travelled extensively throughout the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Japan.
Ellie Matt led his own band, ‘Ellie Matt and the GI’s Brass’, to three successful brass aroma titles and played in Trinidad carnival for 10 consecutive years.
He and his band also played frequently in Antigua, St. Maarten, British and US Virgin Islands, Toronto, New York City and Aruba. They won many trophies for best visiting band in Vancouver, Trinidad and the USVI.
Ellie Matt provided back-up music for the Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Shadow, Arrow, King Short Shirt, Swallow, King Obstinate, David Rudder, Lord Nelson, the late Lord Kitchener and many other big names on the music scene in the Caribbean.
He was also employed by the London Arts Council as music director for a West Indian-based play called “Glory” and also conducted both brass and steel bands simultaneously in Stockholm, Sweden.
He has also toured 10 cities in Sweden as bandleader with the Mighty Sparrow and later with Lord Nelson, Allrounder and Lady Wonder.
He has produced over 20 albums and CDs and has chart-busting hits like “Patsy”, “Shang Shang”, “Jamback” and versions of ‘Shake Your Booty” and Wheels”.
Among other artistes with whom the festival’s Committee held positive talks are R. Kelly, Tito Jackson, Kymani Marley, Baby Face, Third World and Keri Hilson.
The festival will be held from June 24-26 at Warner Park and the Committee has so far signed local artiste Infamus.
Infamus will be performing on the Saturday night of the festival (June 26).
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