Anslem Douglas
Encyclopedia
Anslem Douglas is a musician and composer
from Trinidad and Tobago
, most famous for the hit single "Who Let the Dogs Out?
"
performers at the local community center in his native village of La Romain, in Trinidad
. He was also influenced by his older sister, who was a writer and a poet.
Anslem's musical development began to flourish in the local Pentecostal Church, singing in the choir. At the age of sixteen, he formed his own group, called Exodus; this gave him his first real taste of stardom. The band became popular and performed frequently at venues around Trinidad.
In 1984 Anslem enlisted with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, where he served for six years. During this period he continued to sing, performing with the Coast Guard's own band at local venues. There he experimented with other musical genres and discovered the Soca
music culture.
He recorded his first song in 1988 with Fireflight, then joined the band Atlantik.
His musical influences include Lord Blakie and Lord Kitchener
, as well as R&B greats such as Peabo Bryson
and Stevie Wonder
.
Douglas released hits such as "Good Music to Dance" and "Who Let the Dogs Out", which was a popular party tune across the Caribbean, although the most popular version of the song outside of the Caribbean is probably the cover version of the song sung by the Baha Men
. Other releases include "Soul Island" from the Friend CD and "Abuse" from his 2000 CD Sir Anslem Douglas.
In 2001 he was sued and lost a lawsuit with regards to full authorship of the song Who Let the Dogs Out?
The chorus was originally composed in 1995 by Patrick Stephenson and Leroy Williams of Just Platinum Recording Studios/Action House Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
for a radio jingle. The lawsuit showed that Dougles was a client of the studio during that time, and that he used the chorus to compose the song. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed sum.
Anslem Douglas now owns a West Indian store in Whitby, Ontario
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
from Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
, most famous for the hit single "Who Let the Dogs Out?
Who Let the Dogs Out?
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" is a song written and originally recorded by Anslem Douglas for Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival season of 1998. It was heard and taped on a float by hairdresser Keith from the London salon Smile, who played it to Jonathan King, who recorded it and released it under the name...
"
Biography
Anslem Douglas first became interested in music watching folkFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
performers at the local community center in his native village of La Romain, in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. He was also influenced by his older sister, who was a writer and a poet.
Anslem's musical development began to flourish in the local Pentecostal Church, singing in the choir. At the age of sixteen, he formed his own group, called Exodus; this gave him his first real taste of stardom. The band became popular and performed frequently at venues around Trinidad.
In 1984 Anslem enlisted with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, where he served for six years. During this period he continued to sing, performing with the Coast Guard's own band at local venues. There he experimented with other musical genres and discovered the Soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
music culture.
He recorded his first song in 1988 with Fireflight, then joined the band Atlantik.
His musical influences include Lord Blakie and Lord Kitchener
Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)
Aldwyn Roberts , better known by the stage name Lord Kitchener , was one of the most internationally famous calypsonians. He was the son of a blacksmith, Stephen, and homemaker, Albertha.-Life:...
, as well as R&B greats such as Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
.
Douglas released hits such as "Good Music to Dance" and "Who Let the Dogs Out", which was a popular party tune across the Caribbean, although the most popular version of the song outside of the Caribbean is probably the cover version of the song sung by the Baha Men
Baha Men
The Baha Men are Bahamian singers in a Bahamian band. They play a modernised style of Bahamian music called Junkanoo.-Early career as High Voltage :...
. Other releases include "Soul Island" from the Friend CD and "Abuse" from his 2000 CD Sir Anslem Douglas.
In 2001 he was sued and lost a lawsuit with regards to full authorship of the song Who Let the Dogs Out?
Who Let the Dogs Out?
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" is a song written and originally recorded by Anslem Douglas for Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival season of 1998. It was heard and taped on a float by hairdresser Keith from the London salon Smile, who played it to Jonathan King, who recorded it and released it under the name...
The chorus was originally composed in 1995 by Patrick Stephenson and Leroy Williams of Just Platinum Recording Studios/Action House Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for a radio jingle. The lawsuit showed that Dougles was a client of the studio during that time, and that he used the chorus to compose the song. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed sum.
Anslem Douglas now owns a West Indian store in Whitby, Ontario
Whitby, Ontario
Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region...
.
External links
- Anslem Douglas profile Canoe.ca
- Anslem Douglas makes comeback - October 6, 2006 (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)
- THE MAN WITH THE BARK - By Joan Rampersad; February 10, 1998: The Independent, Pages 18,20