R&B stars heading to Grand Cayman for music fest
(CNS): Music legend Percy Sledge will head the list of musicians at the upcoming Cayman Islands International Music Fest, a musical extravaganza by Mogul Entertainment/DSS Production, which will be held on Friday, 6 December, in Grand Harbour. Organisers say the festival will fuse legendary artists and today’s hit-makers to create a one-night spectacular comparable to the highly revered Cayman Islands Jazz Fest. The event will also feature Ginuwine (left), R&B newcomers Verse Simmonds and Omi at what is slated to be an annual event, which will incorporate local flavor with international panache, both in terms of its level of musical excellence, acoustics and haute style.
The first Cayman Islands International Music Fest will also include special features, described as “a luxurious out-of-this-world VIP lounge, fabulous giveaways and a plethora of surprises”.
An inaugural “Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award” honoree in 1989, Percy Sledge was one of the key figures of deep Southern soul during the late 1960s and is most famous for with his massive hit “When a Man Loves a Woman", which reached #1 in the US and #6 in the UK when it was first released in 1966, and went to #2 in the UK when it was re-released in 1987. In 1996 Sledge was the recipient of the Blues Music Award for best Soul/Blues album of the year with his record Blue Night and in 2005 he was inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
With striking good looks and a voice as smooth as silk, Ginuwine, was one of R&B's preeminent “love men” during the '90s zenith of hip-hop soul. Genuwine first emerged on the music scene in 1996 with the album “Ginuwine…the Bachelor”. The album peaked at twenty-six on the US Billboard 200 and reached the fourteenth spot on the R&B Albums chart. The album was certified gold in January 1997 and double platinum by March 1999. “Pony,” the daring first single, peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks for two weeks in late 1996 and reached #6 on Billboard's Hot 100.
He won Best R&B/Soul Male Album for “100% Ginuwine” in 2000 in the Soul Train Music Awards, while his hit “So Anxious” was nominated the same year in the singles award.
Ginuwine is a founding member of TGT, a supergroup formed in 2007 comprising Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank. The group’s first song was a remix of Tank's song, “Please Don't Go.” The trio also appears on Slim Thug's single “Let Me Grind”.
Titians in the business, such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Rihanna and Akon, all agree on one thing: Verse Simmonds is the future of music in the 21st century.
A musical prodigy from the the Virgin Islands, Verse Simmonds (31) is a renaissance man in R&B, possessing an innate ability for rapping, singing, songwriting and producing. Over the last 18 months, Verse Simmonds (short for Versatile), has been lava hot on the US music scene, where he has created hits like the super hot and sexy beat “Boo Thang”, featuring Kelly Rowland, which is a track off of his mix-tape “The Sextape Chronicles 2”. Simmonds is also in demand by a wide array of megastars for his songwriting skills.
Omi (Omar Samuel Pasley) is the newest music sensation to hit the R&B music arena. Omi is a prolific singer and songwriter inspired by stars such as Nat King Cole, John Legend and Tanya Stephens. Omi’s fluid vocal delivery and his contemporary songwriting skills will no doubt secure successive hits on the international music charts.
“With such a star-studded line-up, the festival is one not-to-be-missed and promises to be an evening filled with riveting performances and elements of glamour. Attendees will be captivated and impressed by the event’s impeccable attention to detail, sophisticated décor and amazing ambience,” organisers say.
And there’s more: “As the icing on the cake, there will also be a surprise superstar performer that will make the ladies shiver in their heels and the guys envision the ultimate earthly haven.”
Check for more details on the early bird specials via the Cayman Islands International Music Fest’s website: www.ciimf.ky.
Category: Local News
Another waste of money. Someone needs to bring a big name again. Next time beyonce, JayZ Rihanna….
Or not
Your suggestions are a waste of money.
Think how much it would cost to get them here to perform?????? Every man, woman and child in Cayman would have to attend this and the cost of tickets alone would be $150 minimum.
I jnow they cant be charging no big money for Percy, who been here several times already and tickets was $25.00 . And the rest of them who are they never heard of m before. And Another Ting.
Just hope that some of Cayman Brac's talented Artists and Grand Cayman's will get to do their thing too. Cayman Brac's #1 Raymond Scott, Arlen Tatum, Percy Whorms, The Martin Brothers , our District Commissioner, Burmon Scott and too many talented in Cayman Brac to mention. Then from Cayman our 1 and only Dexter Bodden that Nashville cant beat, also our good ole Edd Solomon oh and I forgot Quincy Brown. We would like to see all these talented Caymanians on stage.
How much would we get paid to have to attend sucha concert?
Agreed. Lets have a Cayman weekend of music with our local artists. Tickets should be free so everyone can come.
Can come or might bother coming? I think I would rather watch paint dry.
Great, another event with no local musicians listed on the bill. Support your own Cayman!
Thank God Jazz Fest is back!!!
If there's an early bird special I'll be buying my ticket early!
I wonder if when you buy your ticket early if there is a special area for us to be!
Let's hope people will be given full refunds if the event is a washout (not like last time)
Wouldn't it be nice if the "glamour" and "sophisticated" "haute style" of Cayman's musical headliners didn't call for, "No Sucka S#it" sweatshirts, homemade dinner vests, and prematurely sunglassed meglomaniacs? Poor Percy.
Great. But I will buy my tickets on the gate so if the weather looks bad & it is cancelled on the day I won't lose my money like the last music event at Camana Bay: $150 wasted as there was not enough cover for the stage, electricals, etc. when it rained; the crowd could have got wet & still had fun & you can't cover them all, but protecting the stage or giving refunds in the event of a cancellation is basic stuff.
This event isnt at Camana Bay and all such outdoor events are subject to rain and cancellation but more so in the rainy season of July than in December. Why doesnt the government or private sector invest in building a covered venue for large scale entertainment events such as this one? It could even be multi purpose designed and built to function as a hurricane shelter too, but also an upscale venue for indoor Sports Tourism events. Duh!!!!
No $$$$$$$.
Duhhhhh!
There is an indoor venue, its been there since before I was born, does the Lions Center ring any bells?
yes, and was good enough for Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson…..
18:07, if I am not mistaken, the tickets bought for the last concert which was rained out at Camana Bay can be used for the next one at DARTLand.
you are mistaken…. no such thing! music republic who were mostly comprised of overseas promoters operating in our island have long brushed their asses and gone!!! they didnt promote no sucka free t shirts !!