It has been announced that John King, one of Barbados' biggest calypso and soca stars, will be performing at the upcoming Caribbean Muzik Festival. The event will take place from October 28 to 31 under the theme "Uniting the world with music". It will feature music genres such as soca, calypso, dancehall, Junkanoo and rake 'n scrape, plus street dancing.
King has used his songs to spread social and political commentaries and to inspire change to good attitudes. He was a fresh young face armed with an exceptional voice and original point of view when he hit the Barbados calypso scene in 1982. But that was merely a jump off point. With his versatility and distinctive style, King fast emerged as one of the Caribbean's most imaginative and proficient artists.
King's approach to music, from his work ethic and stage persona to his compositions and rhythmic styles, cannot be assigned to any given musical format. His wealth of original music ranges from thought-provoking calypso and up-tempo soca to dreamy reggae and funky pop. He uses his gift of voice and perfect pitch to the fullest and steps "outside of the box" to advance beyond the confines of any musical formula.
King's unwavering professionalism and attention to detail both on and off the stage ensure his live performances deliver the epitome of grace and style, which garners him the respect of international and regional peers as well as his audiences, who always come away feeling they experienced a well-presented, first-class performance.
This entertainer mixes effortlessly with virtually any international name and he has shared the stage with country icons Skeeter Davis and Kenny Rogers, R&B legends including The Drifters, Freddie Jackson and Ben E. King, and rock names like Air Supply, as well as reggae legends Third World, Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond and just about every soca star alive.
King focuses on major music festivals and concerts where he introduces audiences to his unique fusion of Caribbean music with contemporary styles like R&B, jazz and ballads. And now King is challenging himself again at a time when the music industry is so heavily formula-oriented, with his effort to revive spouge, an indigenous Barbadian music style that originated in the 1960s.
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