Papa Smurf releases official music video, "I Am a Bahamian"

By The Bahamas Weekly News Team



Freeport, The Bahamas - Bahamian Hip Hop Artist “Papa Smurf” finally drops his long awaited video for the hit single and patriotic anthem, "I Am a Bahamian" featuring Da Element and Sherrol Rahming, with scenes shot in Grand Bahama Island along with lots of local faces.

Hailing from Eight Mile Rock, Jones Town, "Papa Smurf" exploded on the music scene with his hit single "What Da Vibe Is" and went on to release other hits songs such as "Forward Upward" “Stop, Look, Listen” and "The Teacher Appreciation Song."

Still working on his solo album entitled "Over Seven Hundred Strong" he decided to shoot a video for one of the singles. This video was shot and directed by Shantz Collymore of Evolution Film and Media. The video boasts a bright rich island feel that captures the true essence of island life. With a new album in the works and a strong determination to make The Bahamas proud, we can expect great things from Papa Smurf

"I Am a Bahamian" is truly a patriotic masterpiece...

More about Songwriter / Musical Performer, Papa Smurf:

Born: June 2, 1978
Birthplace: Freeport, Grand Bahama
Real name: Alvin Simms
Best Known For: His Most Popular Songs (Tings Still Cool) "What Da Vibe Is", "Forward Upward", and "Serious Ting"

Growing up in Eight Mile Rock, Avin had a real taste of island life, from shooting marbles at home and during lunchtime in the school yard to going fishing with his father in his 12 foot aluminum dingy boat. From a young age his mother would line him and his two brothers up and ask them to sing for her. But it was not until the age of Thirteen that he developed a strong interest in music, and cars. He would race down the road playing songs from KB (Just cause she fat). The high school children with their boom boxes would walk down the road playing songs from Bob Marley, and at home he would hear songs from Smokey 007 on ZNS radio. Simms had interest in different genres of music from Hip-Hop, R&B, Soca, to Reggae and Dancehall. He got his first taste of performing in front of a crowd at the local Fish-Fry in Smith's Point. He then went on to perform in local concert shows, sharing the stage with local and international artists.

Alvin then moved forward to recording his music, and working with recording engineers such as Fritz Bootle, Lester Adderly, and Dave Mackey of T-Connection. In 2007 he met Terrance Capron and they later became the rap duo Positive Link. Using Bahamian slang and Bahamian terminology in their songs they introduced a whole new style of music that they call "Bahamian Swing" which also was the name of their debut album.

Making a fresh start in 2009 as a solo artist, Smurf dropped his first single "Stop, Look, Listen" from his upcoming album due out in the summer of 2009.

Contacts: smurf-berry@hotmail.com
Myspace
1(242)533-2658
On Facebook as Positive Link

Viral Movements Music Conference Kicks off with Press day

Panelists: Dalioness, PJ Douglas Sands, Ternielle Burrows - Tada, Scharad Lightbourne

By Lyndah Wells
FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA-Viral Movements Music conference which takes place Saturday Feb 5th 2011 at the Canal House, the conference center at The Pelican Bay hotel , kicked off today with a press conference.
On hand to speak at the table were panelists including Da Lioness, the first female mix DJ out of the Bahamas & the founder and organizer of Viral Movements, Musician Tada- The Voice of "It's Better in The Bahamas" international TV Ad & the first female Bahamian musician to appear on MTV Tempo.
PJ Douglas Sands, best known as celebrity event planner with clients like U2, Lenny Kravitz, NSync, Keri Hilson amongst others and Scharad Lightbourne, Photographer, graphic designer and producer under his brand name Scharadl
The Live press conference was filmed and streamed live on Ustream with Africa Allah of DIRadiocast , Founder of DI Radio Cast and a long time radio and media personality, being the moderator and taking online questions. Also present was Aldra Gamface, Founder of Youth Entertainment Movement in 2003
Watch the Video Here

Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV

Viral Music Seminar will be introducing the most promising musicians, artists, songwriters & producers of The Bahmamas to the world via state of the art technology to impart music and entertainment knowledge to the international community on the imapct of new media.
All panel talks and information can be found on twitter under the hashtag #viralmovements, on Facebook
Meet and greet takes place tonight Friday 4th Feb 2011, at Neptune cocktail Lounge, Free to the public.

 Africah Allah, GAMFace, PJ Douglas Sands, Da Lioness, Tada & Scharadl

 GAMFace

 Sponsor & Fashion Designer Anthea Bullard

The schedule of events for Viral Movements

GB artist wins third Cacique

 Kirkland "KB" Bodie

By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL

Freeport News Reporter
Grand Bahamian artist Kirkland "KB" Bodie took home his third Cacique award on Friday night - the People's Choice Award for Secular Performer, for the song "I Is A Bahamian."

Bodie, who has devoted almost two decades to the entertainment field, shared his feelings yesterday with The Freeport News on receiving the honour.

"The Cacique Awards are like our Oscars, our Grammys, so to win it means that the people are voting for you, they are checking for you, so it makes you feel good," he said.

"With it being a song that speaks to them as a people, I feel good that people really like the product."

Bodie did say however that he was hoping for fellow entertainer Terez Hepburn to have won the award. She was nominated in the same category for the song, "Ya Ga Talk It" which was written by Bodie, and, had she won, she would have been the first female to take home the award in that category.

"I actually was pulling for her and as luck would have it they gave it to me. I feel good, but I would have preferred that my girl won it."

On stage performing at Summer Junkanoo 2009 photo: Lyndah Wells

Bodie said he has always felt love from the Bahamian public for his music, with his first two Cacique awards being won for the songs, "Civil Servants" and "Toters."

"My music has always been appreciated. I've never had a problem with feeling underappreciated with my music. Bahamian people have always supported me. I think they feel something real in my music. They feel like I'm speaking to us, so I think that they are kind of proud of it," he said.

Expressing his opinion on the current state of the Bahamian music industry, Bodie said he believes there should be more regulations mandating that more local music be played on radio stations.

"We still let the radio stations run amuck. We let them play all the foreign music they want to play... We bring a lot of negative music that demeans women, talks about guns and being a bad boy. Yet, we still want to be a touristic nation and we don't push our own," he said.

"If you are going to be a touristic nation, you should push people who are pushing tourism as far as singing to Bahamian people and singing to a Bahamian product. That's where I think we are going wrong."

Making reference to local songs that are presently getting some airplay on the radio such as "The Sailor Man Song" and "Stop the World," Bodie said local musicians are still not getting the kind of attention they deserve.

"It's wrong... We would push foreign before we push our own. Everytime we make 20 steps forward, we have the powers that be or the radio stations taking us 40 steps back. We are always struggling; it's always an up hill battle to try to get our music out there."

Bodie also said he believes there should be more invested by both the government and the private sector in the Bahamian music industry.

"In the future, I hope to see it as a multi-million dollar industry, that we have artists who are actually interested in pushing our culture... We want to get involved in those things where we see the quick results, but people need to see the viability of music," he said.

"We need more businessmen to understand and I think we need government backing from culture and tourism and I think we can see some things."

Moving forward, Bodie said he is currently working on a new album which should be released sometime around the end of February.

"This year I'm going to be working on four projects. I've been laying back for the past two years just catching myself. I'm trying to now move everything ahead and get myself back into the business," he said.

South Carolina cellist set for Trio Con Brio Concert

THE Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society (GBPAS) will present the Trio con Brio concert on Saturday, January 22 at the Church of Ascension at 8pm.
"Brio" is Italian for "full of energy, life, enthusiasm", and the GBPAS said the show promises to deliver that and more with the three visiting musicians.
Participating cellist Kenneth Law, who is the Chair of the Performance Department and Associate Professor of Violoncello at the Petrie School of Music of Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina is one of the trio of performers.
"I am excited to perform for the Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society and this will be my first trip to the Bahamas. As a community-minded musician, it is my privilege to help with such a dedicated non-profit organisation."
Returning to Grand Bahama is pianist Dr Christy Lee, Assistant Professor at the College of the Bahamas where she teaches piano, theory, and director of the COB Concert Choir.
Mr Law said he is looking forward to performing with Dr Lee, "who has been a friend since college days."
Dr Lee said: "I am eager to return to Freeport to perform again for the Grand Bahama Performing Arts Society. It is exciting to see the growth that is happening in the artistic community in Grand Bahama. This concert should be a great opportunity to hear the unique and appealing combination of flute, cello and piano."
Mr Law and Dr Lee will be accompanied by flutist Christine Gangelhoff, Associate Professor of Music at the College of the Bahamas in Nassau.
"I'm also looking forward to making music with Christine, and what better way to make a new friend, than by playing chamber music," Mr Law said.
In addition to the concert, all three musicians will conduct a master class on Sunday, January 23, also at the church.
Information about the class will be going out in the next few days to music schools and teachers.

Visiting Canadian High School Band Performs at Port Lucaya

By GBPA
Freeport, Bahamas – The visiting Cochrane High School Band out of Alberta, Canada, was music to the ears of patrons gathered in the Port Lucaya Marketplace (PLM) on Monday afternoon.

The 50 musicians thrilled their audience with renditions of popular hits of the 70’s like ‘Gatta Be There’, ‘Heard it through the Grapevine’, ‘Isn’t she Lovely’, signature pieces from ‘Grease’ and other show tunes.

Welcoming the group, who traveled to Grand Bahama onboard the Carnival Sensation, was PLM’s Entertainment & Marketing Coordinator, Karen Ferguson-Bain. “The band’s visit was not only entertaining for patrons visiting the Port Lucaya Marketplace, but it was a wonderful revenue opportunity for our vendors. The band members were here as visitors but they also gave back because they all had lunch here,” she commented.

Accompanying the group was Ministry of Tourism & Aviation (MOTA) representative, Carmeta Miller, Sr. Manager with responsibility for Religious Tourism. MOTA was responsible for coordinating the group’s visit in conjunction with Marlin Travel Agency in Canada.

“They’ve been overwhelmed by the love shown to them and they’re all saying they will come again,” Miller expressed. “Tourism is about numbers and the care given to our visitors. As cruise passengers their arrival will help boost our numbers and we in return have been able to extend hospitality to them.”
Ferguson-Bain concurred with these comments. “This serves as a wonderful opportunity for persons who live in the Canadian district to find out about Grand Bahama and things they can do once they’re here. This band can now pass on their experience to other schools and even family members who may want to come down to Grand Bahama on vacation,” she said.

Accompanied by 8 chaperones, the Cochrane High School Band performed at St. Georges High School prior to their performance in Port Lucaya. There was a cultural exchange at the school as the St. Georges High School Band also showed off their talents to the visiting group.