With a beautiful location - situated right on the beach front, Vinoy Park was the perfect place to hold the 16th Annual Carnival Celebration. Trust us when we tell yuh ... niceness. With both food and craft vendors in their multitudes, the flow of traffic from the food stalls, to the vendors, to the stage-front was almost automatic. And in between everything, steel pan enthusiasts could find the likes of Joumberie, New Generation Steel, Power Stars, Spirit of Steel and the Tamboo Bamboo Rhythm Section all in full swing. And believe it or not, this was just the beginning of the evening!
As the crowd started to flow steadily through the gates, the buzz in the crowd was the anticipation of Bermuda's Reggae sensation Collie Buddz and Puerto Rican Reggaeton Superstar Ivy Queen, both headlining today's concert. The Impulse Band and Latin League started the evening performances in fine style; pulling the crowd and having them settle in front the stage.
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Leon Coldero & Code 868 Band - 2007 |
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 Code 868 started the blaze as Leon Coldero and Eddie Charles had the crowd pumping and looking for more. Uncle Sam surprised the massive crowd, showing them that this whiteboy could wine like ah true Trini..... but after he took the microphone from Leon and gave a rendition of "Frenzy", Uncle Sam became an instant hit with the crowd. Even the coconut vendor put down de blade for a few minutes to take ah wine.
Leon Coldero was born in Trinidad and Tobago and started entertaining at the early age of five years old. He is certainly no stranger to the stage and has over the years graced the music industry with superb performances throughout the Caribbean, Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Dubbed The Original Winer Boy, he has held close to his heart the world of Soca, which he has uniquely flavored with his reggae crossover. Coldero's name signals pure excitement, superb entertainment, and an energy that emanates throughout every performance. His talent has touched many throughout the music community with former tour and band performances with the famed Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. Coldero was also the lead singer for the renowned Sound Revolution band that released the popular song Shake It in 1985.
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Byron Lee and The Dragonaires |
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Nov 5th 2008: Byron "The Dragon" Lee passed away peacefully on November 4, after a valiant battle with cancer. But the memory of his phenomenal presence in the music of Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and, indeed, the world to which he helped introduce Jamaican music - will live on through the dynamic band that he founded: Byron Lee and The Dragonaires. With mega hits, such as "Jamaica Ska", "Tiney Winey" and "Dancehall Soca", the band's music has spanned and remained relevant and popular over its more than 50-year existence. The world-famous band will continue to entertain and to bring the music of Jamaica and the Caribbean to a worldwide audience. The Dragon may be gone but he lives on through the Dragonaires!
Foresight, professionalism, vigour, and commitment are a just a few of the principles that govern the life of a man many call the Dragon. The name Byron Lee to those in the business means a man who can take an idea and market it with a sales force as competent as any major corporation. He is undoubtedly one of Jamaica’s finest musical ambassadors and with 46 years of experience and over 150 awards he continues to command respect and admiration world-wide.
“From the onset, I was determined that my band would be a band of well dressed, clean professionals. I am pleased to say that in all my years of touring we have never had any incident involving a member of my band whilst on tour,” he states. He attributes the success of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires to the image and reputation of a band, comprising of slick-looking members, which would take minimum breaks, play good music and ensure that patrons got their monies worth.
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El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico |
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 El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a group of salsa music from Puerto Rico. It is without doubt the most successful of the nation and one of the most popular salsa groups throughout Latin America and the world. Many of the legendary singers of the genre of Salsa have been members at some time in the orchestra, so it has the name of the Universidad de la Salsa.
El Gran Combo was founded by Rafael Ithier in May 1962. Ithier remains pianist in the orchestra and its music director. The group is promoting their latest album "ARROZ CON HABICHUELA" that lead them on tours around the world.
This production was worthy of the award for "Best Salsa Album" at the last edition of the Latin Grammy Awards, held November 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Lord Nelson -- The Disco Daddy |
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Lord Nelson is a musical innovator who is regarded as the inventor and architect of soca music. His recordings stand out because of their rhythmic sophistication, variety in arrangement and lyrics, and integration of African, reggae and American R&B into the soca pulse.
As the composer of over 300 calypsoes, today Nelson manages to constantly inject fresh sounds and rhythms into the soca sound. Nelson is a living legend who ranks with the great calypso tradition of the Mighty Sparrow and the late, great Lord Kitchener.
Born Robert Nelson in Plymouth, Tobago, he emigrated to the United States as a teenager, thus from an early stage he was exposed to a variety of musical and cultural influences. He served in the Korean War where he did a little singing for his troops. In the late '50's he began playing with a state side steelband but singing took center stage due to great audience response.
His meeting with Sparrow and Duke in 1963 influenced him to carve out a niche for himself in the calypso world. Duke was especially inspirational to Nelson.
Nelson's early calypso hits had a unique sound, strongly influenced by American funk. Garrot Bounce, Stella, King Liar, Bald Head Rasta, and Disco Daddy, were so innovative that Nelson was heralded as a the best loved calypsonian. He was also the first to introduce electronic instruments in his music.
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Please come join us @ Vinoy Park, downtown St. Pete on Sunday, June 13, 2010 for Alison Hinds. 
Past Performances 
