One of the modern exponents of groovy soca is Kerwin Du Bois. The fans' favourite who started his career as a serious calypsonian says he was "born a winner."
The 2008 International Soca Awards Soca Producer of the Year started singing in primary school and was the 1992 Junior Calypso Monarch.
He rose through the ranks of the calypso world, captured the Young Kings title and even reached the Big Yard for the National Calypso Monarch finals on several occasions.
Du Bois was hailed as a rising star, delighted with his melodious voice and thought-provoking lyrics and was selected to represent Trinidad along with other young calypsonians for a Calypso Youth Exchange programme hosted by the Association of British Calypsonians in the UK, where he settled for a number of years, eventually capturing the UK Calypso Monarch title.
In recent years, Du Bois has spread his wings and can no longer be considered simply a calypsonian, having branched out into soca not only as a performer but also as a highly-rated producer and songwriter.
He has worked with a range of soca artistes including Kees Dieffenthaller for whom he wrote the 2011 Groovy Soca Monarch hit Wotless.
He has also written for or collaborated with Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin, Blaxx, Denise Belfon, Farmer Nappy and Shal Marshall.
This year, he is much in demand for parties as he's got several hits including Too Real, Press A Button and Forget About It.
According to the partygoers and radio DJs, he's one of the leading contenders for the Groovy Soca Monarch.
HITS
Some Kerwin Du Bois hits
2004 Bubblenut written for Machel Montano
2007 Rose and De Stem with Denise Belfon
2008 Gyal Farm with Shal Marshall
2008 Breathless written for Blaxx
2009 Obsessive Winer written for Denise Belfon, Destra Garcia and Alison Hinds
2009 Tusty written for Blaxx
2010 Pavement written for Farmer Nappy
2011 Wotless written for Kes the Band
2011 Ah Ting
2011 Illegal written for Machel Montano
2012 Bacchanalist
2013 Wetting
2013 Possessed with Machel Montano
2013 Monster Winer with Lil Rick
2014 Too Real
For information about tickets for the International Soca Monarch, contact Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts, 66 Prince Street, Port-of-Spain, or call 623-0986 or 624-2134.
For event updates log on to www.socamonarch.net and/or www.facebook.com/socamonarch
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