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October 4th 2004Contact: Kanchan Paser For Immediate ReleaseCaribbean Sunshine Awards Announces 2004 Special HonoreesTeaneck, New Jersey, USA, October 4th 2004….The SUNSHINE Awards™ organization today issued the following statement:Every year at about this time, the Caribbean Sunshine Awards releases the
names of that select group of individuals who have been nominated for special
recognition and Awards for the contribution they have made to their respective
art forms. This year’s Awards Program has the theme of “One Caribbean – One
Family,” and this year’s Special Honorees are Barrington Watson, CD, of Jamaica,
Jean Jean-Pierre of Haiti, the Swingin’ Stars of Dominica, and Moses Josiah of
Guyana. The Caribbean Sunshine Awards organization and the Caribbean Life
Insurance Company, Limited of Trinidad (CLICO), the Platinum Sponsor of the 2004
Awards, congratulate each of these artists for the excellence they have achieved
and have maintained in their craft over the years. Barrington Watson, CD is widely acknowledged as one of Jamaica’s and, indeed, one of the Caribbean’s finest artists. A painter, known for his use of vibrant colors, and for his figurative, impressionist style, Watson has firmly established himself in the art world as an exceptional portrait painter. In 1949, after completing his secondary school education, he traveled to London where he studied at the Royal School of Art. After graduating, he went on to study at Art Academies in Amsterdam, Rome, Paris and Madrid. Watson works mainly with oil and canvas, however, his works in acrylic and watercolors are equally impressive. Over the years, he has developed his own unique style, one which has been influenced by the Old Masters and the art of West Africa, which he says have been his inspiration. His work has been on exhibit in the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. His art is also on permanent display in institutions, universities, museums and national galleries in the Caribbean, Central America, the United States, Canada and Jamaica, and is also represented in over 1000 private collections around the world. He has been commissioned to paint the portraits of Heads of States and other prominent individuals, including Martin Luther King, Jr. He has also done several murals and environmental works in Jamaica and the United States. Barrington Watson has traveled extensively, however, he always returns to Jamaica to paint the “Caribbean flavor,” and his contribution to the development and enrichment of the art movement in Jamaica is immeasurable. From 1964 to 1987, Watson founded the Contemporary Jamaican Artists’ Association, Gallery Barrington, the Contemporary Art Center, and the Jamaican Art Foundation. In 1991, he founded the Orange Park Trust in the parish of St. Thomas. He has taught at the University of the West Indies, and from 1962 -1966 was the Director of Studies at the Jamaica School of Art. He has also taught at colleges and universities in the United States and England, and from 1971 to 1972, was the artist-in-residence at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Watson has donated a number of his paintings to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust. For the future, he looks forward to building a museum in Jamaica, which would display the work of Caribbean artists. Barrington Watson has received a number of national and international Awards. In 2004 he was also presented with a Lifetime Master Artist Award by Broward County in Florida, and in the year 2000, the City of Atlanta proclaimed the 6th of February as Barrington Watson’s Day. Among the many Awards and Recognitions bestowed on him by the Government of Jamaica was the Commander of the Order of Distinction, C.D. Jean Jean-Pierre is a respected journalist, composer, playwright, screenwriter and producer. He started his music career as a drummer, performing with the Bossa Combo band and with popular recording artists such as Haitian star Ansy Derose, Brazilian vocalist Nelson Ned, and Puerto Rican singer, Daniel Santos. In 1974, he migrated to the United States, where he quickly immersed himself
in New York’s music world. There he distinguished himself as a musician and
composer, performing with several bands whose music ranged from R&B to Pop Rock.
Jean-Pierre is known for his unrelenting passion to represent the best of Haitian society and culture. This led him to embark on a second career in journalism, where he focused his writing on Haitian issues. He has written for the New York Village Voice, the United Nations Radio and as a columnist for the Gannet Newspapers. Ever expanding the reach of his creativity, Jean-Pierre, in 1995, co-founded Mapou Productions Ltd. with Academy Award-winning filmmaker, Jonathan Demme, and human rights attorney, Michael Ratner. Mapou Productions is dedicated to promoting Haiti’s vibrant culture. In its first year, the company produced Bayou-Rasin, the very first Haitian international roots music festival. Since then Jean-Pierre regularly produces music events at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and at Carnegie Hall. In 1999, Jean-Pierre founded the Kiskeya Orchestra, which offers a wide selection of music, from classical to pop and jazz. Its main focus, however, is on traditional Haitian sounds and rhythms. Kiskeya also provides the music for Jean-Pierre’s plays, which deal with Haitian historical and cultural events. Jean-Pierre recently composed the “Ode to Jean-Ode” performed by the Kiskeya Orchestra for the film, “The Agronomist” based on the life of Haiti’s foremost journalist, Jean Dominique, who was tragically slain in the year 2000. As a tribute to Haiti’s Centennial Anniversary in 2002, Jean-Pierre composed and produced a special CD recording, which was performed by the Kiskeya Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Jean-Pierre’s plans for 2005 include performances highlighting the music of outstanding Caribbean composers, some of whom significantly influenced classical music, dating as far back as the 18th century. The Swingin’ Stars band has dominated the music scene in Dominica for about forty of its forty-five years of existence. When the band started in 1959, the young group of musicians went by the name Swingin’ Teens. As the years went by, however, and the members got older, the name was changed to the Swingin’ Stars. Today, the members of the band range in ages from nineteen to sixty. There are only two members who have been with the band since its creation, Norman Letang, saxophonist, who is also the leader and music arranger, and Bingsworth Casimir, who plays the trumpet. The Swingin’ Stars are as comfortable playing Hip Hop and R&B, as they are playing Zouk, Reggae, Soca and Calypso. Their musical talent and versatility have given them a broad fan base as they are able to please a crowd of any age group. Over the years, the band has made a major contribution to Dominica’s culture, particularly its Carnival celebration. They have been part of the Queen Pageant, Stardom King of the Tent competition, the Lagoon Street Jam, the calypso competition and Street Jumping. The Swingin’ Stars have had very successful performances at three World
Creole Music Festivals. Over the years, the band has accompanied almost every
leading calypsonian, including the Mighty Sparrow, Crazy, Arrow, Baron,
Chalkdust, Cro Cro, Shadow, David Rudder and Aiwa George. They have also played
alongside many other leading Caribbean bands. The band travels extensively, and has played throughout the Caribbean, North America and Europe. They regularly travel to Canada for Caribana and to New York for the West Indian Labor Day Parade. The Swingin’ Stars have recorded eighteen albums and several singles. Individual members of the band have also made successful solo recordings. For its contribution to music, calypso, carnival and tourism in Dominica, the band was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the Government of Dominica, and the Golden Drum Award by the National Cultural Council. Norman Letang and Bingsworth Casimir have both received individual Meritorious Service and Golden Drum Awards. Moses Josiah began his musical career at the age of seventeen after reading an article which described how musical sounds could be extracted from the blade of a carpenter’s saw. Using a felt-tipped hammer, Josiah started practicing on his father’s saw. It didn’t take him long to master not only the notes of the scale, but also tunes such as “Home Sweet Home” and “Amazing Grace.” As his skill on the saw developed, he gradually moved from a percussion style of playing to a bowing technique. This new technique produced an unusual legato sound, which was very close to the sound of the human voice. After his debut performance in 1947, Josiah was soon in popular demand and gave performances at schools, concert halls and on the radio. He has also performed on Guyana’s national television and has traveled extensively. In 1967, he won first prize in the miscellaneous category at the Guyana Music Festival. Among his many memorable performances over the years, was one for Queen Elizabeth II during Guyana’s Independence celebrations. Josiah is also an accomplished songwriter and guitarist. He plays mainly
gospel and classical music and is widely recognized as having made a valuable
contribution to music in Guyana and the Caribbean. Through his creativity and
skill on this unusual musical instrument, he has made sure that this art form
will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. He has received
numerous Awards for his artistry and contribution to the art forms and culture
of Guyana, and has released a number of albums. The Sixteenth Annual Caribbean Sunshine Awards will be held on Saturday, October 16, at the Sheraton New York Hotel, 7th Avenue and 52nd Street. The Awards will be preceded by a cocktail reception from 6 – 8 p.m. The presentation of awards and performances will take place from 8:30 to 11 p.m. and will be followed by dancing until 1 a.m. Tickets for the Sixteenth Annual Caribbean Sunshine Awards can be obtained from its office at 201-836-0799, Fax 201-836-4440 or from the website www.sunshineawards.com. The Platinum Sponsor for this year’s Awards is the Caribbean Life Insurance Company of Trinidad (CLICO). Other corporate sponsors include Hennessey, Discovery Channel, BWIA, Air Jamaica, Continental Airlines, Carib News, Travel Span Vacations and RumJungle. The Brooklyn Public Library is billed as a partner to the 2004 Awards. |
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