El-A-Kru
Encyclopedia
El-A-Kru is an Antigua
n soca
band. The name derives from "Little Antigua Crew".
The band's single, 'Antigua Nice' (from their 2006 album of the same name) has been dubbed "Antigua’s new anthem", and was used extensively by the Antigua Ministry of Tourism in their customer care initiative for the 2007 Cricket World Cup
. 'Expose', another single from the Antigua Nice album, topped MTV Tempo's Cross Caribbean Countdown for several weeks in 2007. Two tracks from El-A-Kru's 2007 album Fully Loaded, 'Kick It Off' and 'Fully Loaded', featured in DJ Alex Jordan
's 2007 Christmas program in her International Sounds of Soca series for BBC 1Xtra. The band was also nominated for the Overall Soca Band of the Year at the 2007 International Soca Awards.
El-A-Kru are frequent performers at the Antigua Carnival
, where they have won the title of "Sweetest Band on the Road" four times of the last eight years, winning the title for a record three years in a row. In 2007, they toured the UK with the Antigua Carnival Roadshow, marking the 50th anniversary of the Carnival. The band also perform at the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
and the Saint Kitts and Nevis
and Miami Carnivals and have appeared in The Caribbean Splashdown Music Festival in New York City
. In June 2008, they are scheduled to appear in the Antigua and Barbuda International Music Festival.
with their first hit single outside Antigua, 'Lethal Batty', performing in 19 shows over 28 days.
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
n 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....
band. The name derives from "Little Antigua Crew".
The band's single, 'Antigua Nice' (from their 2006 album of the same name) has been dubbed "Antigua’s new anthem", and was used extensively by the Antigua Ministry of Tourism in their customer care initiative for the 2007 Cricket World Cup
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
. 'Expose', another single from the Antigua Nice album, topped MTV Tempo's Cross Caribbean Countdown for several weeks in 2007. Two tracks from El-A-Kru's 2007 album Fully Loaded, 'Kick It Off' and 'Fully Loaded', featured in DJ Alex Jordan
DJ Alex Jordan
Alex Jordan is a disc jockey who used to host the International Sounds of Soca music show on BBC 1Xtra in the United Kingdom. This program is no longer broadcast but used to be at 2am on Sunday nights....
's 2007 Christmas program in her International Sounds of Soca series for BBC 1Xtra. The band was also nominated for the Overall Soca Band of the Year at the 2007 International Soca Awards.
El-A-Kru are frequent performers at the Antigua Carnival
Antigua Carnival
The Antiguan Carnival is a celebration of music and dance held annually from the end of July to the first Tuesday in August. The most important day is that of the j'ouvert , in which brass and steel bands perform for much of the island's population. Barbuda's Carnival, held in June, is known as...
, where they have won the title of "Sweetest Band on the Road" four times of the last eight years, winning the title for a record three years in a row. In 2007, they toured the UK with the Antigua Carnival Roadshow, marking the 50th anniversary of the Carnival. The band also perform at the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is the most significant event on the islands' cultural and tourism calendar, with numerous cultural events running in the lead up to the street parade on...
and the Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
and Miami Carnivals and have appeared in The Caribbean Splashdown Music Festival in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In June 2008, they are scheduled to appear in the Antigua and Barbuda International Music Festival.
Background
The band was formed in 1990 as L.A. Crew. For their first seven years they performed mostly on the hotel and tourist circuits, and had several local hit recordings. In 1998, they recruited their lead singer, Tanzania "Tizzy" Sebastian, who has performed with the band ever since. They also changed their name to El-A-Kru. In 1999, "Tizzy" and El-A-Kru made a breakthrough at the Trinidad and Tobago CarnivalTrinidad and Tobago Carnival
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is the most significant event on the islands' cultural and tourism calendar, with numerous cultural events running in the lead up to the street parade on...
with their first hit single outside Antigua, 'Lethal Batty', performing in 19 shows over 28 days.
Current band members
- Tanzania "Tizzy" Sebastian, lead vocalist. "Tizzy" was named Female Soca Performer of the Year and Best New Female Soca Artist at the 2007 International Soca Awards. Before joining El-A-Kru, she was primarily known as a dancer and was one of the original members of The Antigua Dance Academy.
- Rohan “Sylky” Hector, keyboardsMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
. He is the original founder of El-A-Kru and is also the band's producer, arrangerArrangerIn investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, and musical director.
- Glenroy “Zamba” Richards, vocalist and guitaristGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He is also the primary songwriter of the group.
Former band members
- "Naycha Kid" (Junior Afori Edwards) – now a solo vocalist.
- Glenroy "Byke" Joseph – became the lead vocalist for Da Bhann.
- Lincoln "Blade" Stanislaus Jr., second vocalist. In 1999 he was the winner of the Antigua song festival and went on to represent Antigua at the Caribbean Song FestivalCaribbean Song FestivalThe Caribbean Song Festival is an annual song competition held among countries that are members of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union . It is the largest and highest rated song competition of the Caribbean....
final in CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. He is now with the Burning Flames.
Discography
- Lethal Batty (1998)
- Destination 2000 (1999)
- 911 Emergency (2000)
- Social Ah Gwaan (2001)
- Soca Paramedics (2002)
- Raw Soul (2003)
- The One (2004)
- Changes (2005)
- Antigua Nice (2006)
- Fully Loaded (2007)
- Rocket Launcher (2008)
- De Road Show (2009)
- Soca Animals (2010)