BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOR many of the nation’s youth, being involved in the entertainment field is a positive avenue which channels talented energies.
Ninteen-year-old Delroy ‘Delly Ranks’ Huggins of Gingerland, Nevis is set and ready to make a debut performance in this year’s Soca Monarch Competition.
Delly Ranks, nicknamed ‘Golden Voice’, officially became an artiste of the Nevis-based Kore Entertainment last year November and is one of the popular faces of Kore Band.
He is the son of the widowed Cynthia Lawrence and Garry Lawrence. His late father was a well-known guitarist of the Wild Fire Band of Nevis and he also played the banjo and drums, while his mother sings in the choir of the Gingerland Methodist Church.
Delly Ranks has three siblings, two of whom are his seniors.
Last Thursday (Nov. 6), Delly Ranks officially released two songs - ‘Jam Me Come To Jam’ and ‘I Rep’ on ZIZ Radio - with DJ Ronnie Rascal.
‘Jam Me Come To Jam’ and ‘I Rep’ are for the Groovy and Power segments respectively of this year’s Soca Monarch Competition.
Shortly after the release, during an in-office interview, this media house chit chatted with Delly Ranks; Kareem ‘LL’ Herbert, a drummer of Kore Band who is also part of the management team; and Delly Ranks’ cousin, 18-year-old Shavon ‘Tusday’ Lawrence, who is being groomed to become an official artiste of Kore Entertainment.
Delly Ranks talked about the content of both songs and noted that ‘Jam Me Come To Jam’ is about partying, which was originally intended to be released during this year’s Culturama.
“But we held it back see if we could get something big for the Soca Monarch Competition,” he added.
The ‘I Rep’, he explained, came from a patriotic chant which influenced the lyrics of the song, telling persons to “rep your city”.
His cousin, Tusday, is featured as a background vocalist for these two songs.
Some of the artistes admired by Delly Ranks include: Mention, the lead vocalist of Nu Vybz International (De Sugar Band); Machel Montano; Shurwayne Winchester; and Farmer Nappy.
Asked what inspired him to be a part of the music business, he revealed that most of his family members are musicians. He spoke about his father while other musically-talented relatives include uncles and aunt.
Delly Ranks plays the banjo and drums.
Asked if he recalls any encouraging words from his father - who passed away in January this year- as it relates to his interest in music, Delly Ranks responded in the positive.
“Yeah, he (encouraged) me to continue with the drum but I switched over from drumming to singing. But I started singing when I was drumming while I was in the iron band…the Jungle Warriors Iron Band.”
Delly Ranks shared that upon completion of his secondary education he had been concentrating more on singing.
He revealed that his father never heard him sing. However, had he been alive today, Delly Ranks believes that “he would have been happy for me to see where I have reached…Soca Monarch”.
Delly Ranks had performed with Nevis’ hailed ‘Soca Goddess’ Ali Dee on this year’s sweet 16th production of the St. Kitts Music Festival.
Ali Dee is also managed by Kore Entertainment.
“It was good”, he said about the experience, adding that he was not nervous.
Asked what persons can expect from him in the Soca Monarch Competition, Delly Ranks said: “They can expect a good performance. I will come out and do my best; put out my all. For Music Festival I got a lot of crowd response so I hope I get the same for Soca Monarch”.
To make it very far in the music industry is what Delly Ranks has on his mind.
He thanked the Kore Entertainment team for all its hard work and also all those who has been there for him including Karimah Lake. “She’s by my side all the time and also my family.”
He also expressed thanks to the Rawlins and Caution crews in Nevis, as well as one of Kore Entertainment’s biggest supporters, Desiree Herbert.
Delly Ranks strongly believes that he possesses what it takes to make it to the top. But this writer is of the view that in order for him to get there he has to continue working hard and apply the discipline and all the other factors that come with the entertainment business.
He has most certainly improved from the time when he made his introduction on the entertainment scene.
Herbert informed this media house that Kore Entertainment deals with artiste management.
“We teach you how to be an artiste…not just singing in a band. Because it’s the norm here; they (people) only from a band when the singer is the face. So instead of that concept, we have that concept where we are developing artistes so that they can stand on their own…so if Antigua, Trinidad or whoever calls for Delly Ranks and he goes and represents the country and himself instead of always being tied to a band”, he explained.
Questioned on the reason he chose Soca from among other genres of music, Delly Ranks said, “I love Soca. I grew up with all types of music, Dancehall, Reggae, but I picked Soca.”
Herbert, on behalf of Kore Entertainment, took the opportunity to extend heart-felt thanks to SKNVives, Kyss FM, Freedom FM, ZIZ Radio and Choice FM for highlighting the success of its artistes.
Interested persons can find out more about Delly Ranks on his official Facebook fanpage ‘Delly Golden Voice Ranks’.
