World Music (Curated Playlist) Cultural Insider (World Music)

This blog consists of various genres of Bahamian music such as rake n' scrape, classical, junkanoo, calyspo and choir.

First, we have The Bahamas' First Conch shell choir which was directed by Christian Justilien who is a UB assistant professor and consist of his ensemble. The instruments in this ensemble are conchs, rake and scrape and drums. Christian Justilien has created and taught different forms of music. It's not that often to see conch shells incorporated into creating music. Justilien is the leader and founder of Colours Entertainment and Junkanoo Cooperation and has a music degree in the Bachelor of Arts from Berklee College of Music.

Second. this song Look Wha' Ya Do compose by Bahamian artist Emily Williams, known mostly as 'Sweet Emily', and the late great Bahamian rake n' scrape/calypso artist Ronnie Butler. This song is a mixture of rake n' scrape and Junkanoo music combined. Sweet Emily is known as the 'Queen of Junkanoo' and Ronnie Butler was known as 'The Godfather of Bahamian Music'. Ronnie Bulter (1937-2017) recorded and created hit classics like 'Married Man' and 'Burma Road'. Bulter was a construction worker before he delved into the world of music at the age of 16 playing maracas for a band. 

Third, this is a Bahamian classical soloist named Aubrey Dean-Wright who composed Sperid accompanied by JoAnn Callender, soprano, and Lee Callender on piano. Joann and Lee Callender are husband and wife. Aubrey Dean-Wright (1949-2018) was a singer, composer, pianist and choral director who was an Associate Professor at UB from 2010-2013. She founded and directed the English Choir at Institut Adventiste Franco Haitian and was also the Co-Founder and Co-director of the Bahamas National Children's Choir. In 1998, she founded the College of The Bahamas Concert Choir and helped make it become more national and international and made it as known what it is today.

Fourth, "Jones, Oh Jones" composed by Blind Blake. Blind Blakes real name is Blake Alphonso Higgs mostly known as Blind Blake (1915-1986) was born in Inagua, Bahamas and become blind by staring at the sun for too long. His style of music mainly consists of goombay, calypso and the blues. In this song, he plays his banjo and vocals with background singers. His music style is a mixture of jazz, goombay and American folk music for most of his songs. In his music career, he was able to perform at the Royal Vitoria Hotel for tourist/

Bibliography

Audrey Florence Dean-Wright. (2013) http://www.iamaonline.com/Bio/Audrey_Florence_Dean-Wright.htm

https://www.bahamasentertainers.com/copy-of-featured-artists

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Alphonso_Higgs