Denis Bowman gives “Directions” on the inaugural SVG Cultural Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Photograph by Nelson A. King
Photograph by Nelson A. King
Denis Bowman, a number one, Brooklyn-based Vincentian calypsonian, electrified the inaugural St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cultural Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony at Nazareth Regional Excessive College in Brooklyn on Saturday, April 19.
The occasion – hosted by the Brooklyn-based Dynamite Cultural Group (DCO), residence of the Dynamite Calypso Tent of New York, the lone Vincentian calypso tent in North America – inducted pre-eminent Caribbean calypso and soca arranger Dr. Frankie McIntosh for his function within the performing arts.
The opposite inductees have been Veronica John and Roy “The Dragon” Ralph (each posthumously) for culinary and visible arts, respectively; the Religious Baptist Faith within the heritage and legacy class; and historian Dr. Adrian Fraser for literary arts.
Bowman – a perennial finalist within the Calypso Monarch Competitors in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for Vincy Mas, the nationwide carnival, and member of the Dynamites Calypso Tent – ripped patrons with “Afro Caribbean” “Directions“ and “Wine Come Up“ from his huge repertoire.
Bowman is famend for mesmerizing calypso aficionados and the occasion crowd wherever he performs.
He’s additionally recognized for this particular tribute music to the late Ulric Jones, Jr., popularly generally known as “Soca Jones,“ a distinguished Vincentian leisure promoter in Brooklyn and co-founder and former vice chairman of the large Vincy Day USA picnic that’s held yearly on the third Saturday in August, at Heckscher State Park in East Islip, Lengthy Island.
“It’s a music he would have cherished very a lot,“ Bowman, who penned, sang, and created a video on “True Champion – Tribute to Soca Jones,“ to the tune of one of many hits of Trinidad and Tobago’s calypso icon, Baron, instructed Caribbean Life.
“The hook permits an ideal play on Soca (Jones) himself, and he cherished working together with Caribbean artistes,“ added Bowman, a former lead vocalist with the defunct Vincentian bands Energy, Blaksand, and X-tract.
“Soca Jones was a individuals’s man; he was constantly concerned in all Vincy actions – be it sporting, cultural, or academic; in all points of Vincy life, each at residence and within the Diaspora; and he was undoubtedly an envoy for SVG (St. Vincent and the Grenadines),“ continued Bowman, who gained the 1997 Vincy Soca Monarch title with “Voom, Voom.“
“Soca (Jones) was a person whose contributions have been felt and appreciated and would depart an enormous void to fill,“ he mentioned. “Given his indomitable spirit, he wouldn’t be simple to switch. And, for a few years to come back, that void, created by his absence, will certainly be felt.”
In introducing “True Champion – Tribute to Soca Jones,“ Bowman described the leisure promoter as “a real patriot,“ including: “I personally want to thanks for all the type phrases of encouragement that you just’ve supplied me.”
For the lyrics, Bowman sings partially: “Soca Jones, you’re a real Vincy champion/We love the way in which the way you embrace the Soca Land/Rain or solar, you might be all the time representing/In some ways, you might be greater than a Soca King/
“Such a champion, you’re the actual Soca Man,“ he sings. “At all times keen and able to assist/You’ve got touched many lives in our nation/All ah Vincy thanks on your contribution/Soca, you’re keen on your individuals/You like St. Vincent and the Grenadines with all of your coronary heart/And like Fya Empress say, ‘You’re a real, true Vincy.‘”
East ninety fifth Avenue and Church Avenue, thought-about the hub of Vincentian leisure in Brooklyn, was frequented by Jones. In earlier years, he served as Grasp of Ceremonies within the pre-Labor Day Vincy Carnival jam.
Bowman was ecstatic about his efficiency Saturday night time.
“I loved my efficiency,“ he instructed Caribbean Life. “And it’s all the time a pleasure doing this for any group out of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Amongst different performers Saturday night time have been Garifuna drummers.
