Fay-Ann Lyons
Encyclopedia
Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez is a Trinidadian soca songwriter
, recording artist and performer. She is also known by such titles as the Lyon Empress, Mane the Matriach and the Silver Surfer, a nickname which she claimed during her performance at the 2008 International Soca Monarch. She is married to fellow recording artist and 'Ragga Soca' lyricist
Bunji Garlin
. Fay-Ann was born in Point Fortin
, Trinidad to parents Austin Lyons (sobriquet Superblue
/SuperBlue, formerly known as Blueboy) and Lynette Steele (sobriquet Lady Gypsy).
Fay-Ann Lyons is a three-time Trinidad and Tobago
Carnival Road March
champion (2003, 2008, 2009) and the 2009 International Soca Monarch
and International Groovy Soca Monarch champion. She created history again when she won the International Soca Monarch for the first time in 2009, as the first female to win the Power category, and the first individual (male or female) to win the Power, Groovy and People's Choice awards on Fantastic Friday (aka Carnival
Friday) of the competition which is held annually in Trinidad. She is the first woman to accomplish that feat while pregnant. Fay-Ann is the youngest solo artist (male or female), still actively recording, with multiple wins of the Carnival Road March
crown. (Machel Montano
runs a close second with his double solo wins and a joint win with Patrice Roberts
). Fay-Ann now stands as the only female artist to win the Carnival Road March three times and the second to attain back-to-back wins in two consecutive years. Fay-Ann and husband Bunji also became parents in 2009 to a daughter, Syri, born on February 28, 2009, just a few weeks after Carnival.
. Fay-Ann is a former member of the band Invazion led by Naya George. Fay-Ann became a front-liner for the band Invazion and performed with them at many fete/concert events including the infamous 'Brass Festival' (now defunct) which was an annual event during the pre-Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago featuring a musical 'battle' between the hottest soca
bands.
, who has won the Carnival Road March title eight times (He is second only to Aldwyn Roberts, sobriquet Lord Kitchener
), and is a six-time winner of the Trinidad Soca Monarch competition, which is the predecessor of the current International Soca Monarch
. Fay-Ann's compositions have earned several nominations and wins of Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) music awards including Female Songwriter of the Year and she has also received honours (listed in Awards section) from the Soca Awards Organization (SAO) for her music. Fay-Ann was profiled along with other top local and internationally-renowned artists Machel Montano
, Bunji Garlin
and Isaac Blackman in the documentary Soca Power in Trinidad and Tobago, the Trinidad edition of the six part film series titled Musique Creole. The documentary is available on DVD.
SAO Hall Of Fame Award (2009)
SAO Soca Song Writer of the Year: Heavy T, Meet Super Blue, Wine Faster (2009)
SAO Overall Female Soca Artist of the Year (2009)
SAO Female Soca Performer of the Year (2009)
SAO Favorite Groove Soca - Female: Heavy T (2009)
SAO Favorite Up-tempo Soca - Female: Meet Super Blue (2009)
COTT Soca of the Year: Get On (2008)
SAO Female Soca Performer of the Year: Get On (2008)
SAO Overall Female Soca Artist of the Year: Get On (2008)
SAO Favorite Up-tempo Soca - Female: Get On (2008)
SAO Soca Song of the Year: Get On (2008)
COTT New Songwriter of the Year: Display (2004)
COTT Female Songwriter of the Year: Display (2004)
COTT Song of the Year: Display (2004)
List of Abbreviations
COTT: Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago
NACC: National Action Cultural Committee (Trinidad and Tobago
)
SAO: Soca Awards Organization www.socawards.com
2008: Carnival Road March
2009: Carnival Road March
2009: International Soca Monarch
2009: Groovy Soca Monarch
2009: International Soca Monarch
: People's Choice
Call Me, with Bunji Garlin
, 2010
Judgement Day, with 3Canal and Brother Resistance
, 2010
Start Wining, 2010
Ah Something, 2010
True Lies, 2010
Bring It, (with Mr. Vegas), 2010 (ICC World Cup Cricket Theme Song)
Three Colours, (with David Rudder
and Bunji Garlin
) Trinidad Stories, 2009
Meet SuperBlue, The Best of the Best Soca Hits 2009, 2009
Heavy T Bumper, Best of the Best Soca Grooves 2009, 2009
Wine Faster, (with Beenie Man
), 2009
Get On, The Best of the Best Soca Hits 2008, 2008
Road Call, The best of the Best Soca Hits 2008, 2008
Who Standing, 2008
Lyrics King and Lyon Empress, (with Bunji Garlin), 2007
The Game of Love and Unity, (with Rupee
and Shaggy
), 2007 (World Cup Cricket Theme)
Make Ah Stage, Trini Bashment Compilation 2K7 91.9 FM 2007
John Quickie, Da Mastamind Project 2 2007
Kya Jadu Hai, (with Andy Singh), 2007
Party, (with Miss Alysha), Trini Bashment 2006 Vol. 2, 2006
Somebody, (with Bunji Garlin, Blazer, Maximus Dan
) Next Direction, 2006
Happy, (with Bunji Garlin and Ronnie McIntosh) Next Direction, 2006
That is Carnival, The Best of the Best Soca 2006: The Red Hot Compilation, Soca Gold 10th Anniversary, 2006
One Day, Da Ma$tamind Project, 2006
Breakaway, Trini Bashment Soca Compilation & Party Mix, 2005
Send Dem, (with Bunji Garlin) Flamestorm, 2005
Freedom, 2004
Clear De Road, (with Superblue
), 2004
Display, Iwer And Family: Ah Home, 2003
Focus, Iwer And Family: Ah Home, 2003
It's My Turn Now, (aka "My Time Now" with Invazion) Road March and Soca Monarch 2002 CD, 2002
Wave
International Soca & Groovy Soca Monarch '06 (2006)
Soca Power In Trinidad & Tobago [DVD] (2008)
Soca Gold 2008 [CD/DVD] (2008)
Soca Gold 2007 [CD/DVD] (2007)
Nikki on de Promenade
Trinidad Guardian
Rhyners
COTT
Trinidad Calypso Tent Of The Air
Trinidad Music Store
New Soca Film Takes Centre Stage
Facebook
TnTisland.com
Trini Jungle Juice
Toronto Online
Poison Dart online shop
CD Universe
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, recording artist and performer. She is also known by such titles as the Lyon Empress, Mane the Matriach and the Silver Surfer, a nickname which she claimed during her performance at the 2008 International Soca Monarch. She is married to fellow recording artist and 'Ragga Soca' lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin July 14, 1978 is a Reggae Soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago. His real name is Ian Alvarez. He is of saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent. He married fellow Soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of legendary Soca singer Superblue...
. Fay-Ann was born in Point Fortin
Point Fortin
Point Fortin, the smallest Borough in Trinidad and Tobago, is located in southwestern Trinidad, about southwest of San Fernando. After the discovery of petroleum in the area in 1906 the town grew into a major oil-producing centre. The town grew with the oil industry between the 1940s and 1980s,...
, Trinidad to parents Austin Lyons (sobriquet Superblue
Superblue
Austin Lyons , better known as Superblue, Super Blue, and Blueboy, is a Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian, soca musician, ICON and lyricist.-Person:...
/SuperBlue, formerly known as Blueboy) and Lynette Steele (sobriquet Lady Gypsy).
Fay-Ann Lyons is a three-time 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...
Carnival Road March
Carnival Road March
The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during Carnival. The Road March title is among the most prestigious titles in Trinidad Carnival. In Trinidad and Tobago the most Road march titles have gone to the Mighty Sparrow and...
champion (2003, 2008, 2009) and the 2009 International Soca Monarch
International Soca Monarch
The ' competition is an annual dual-contest soca music event, the finals of which are held on every Carnival Friday in Trinidad and Tobago. Contestants in the event may vie for two separate crowns or titles, the International Soca Monarch for uptempo songs, and International Groovy Soca Monarch...
and International Groovy Soca Monarch champion. She created history again when she won the International Soca Monarch for the first time in 2009, as the first female to win the Power category, and the first individual (male or female) to win the Power, Groovy and People's Choice awards on Fantastic Friday (aka Carnival
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...
Friday) of the competition which is held annually in Trinidad. She is the first woman to accomplish that feat while pregnant. Fay-Ann is the youngest solo artist (male or female), still actively recording, with multiple wins of the Carnival Road March
Carnival Road March
The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during Carnival. The Road March title is among the most prestigious titles in Trinidad Carnival. In Trinidad and Tobago the most Road march titles have gone to the Mighty Sparrow and...
crown. (Machel Montano
Machel Montano
Machel Montano is a soca singer, record producer and songwriter based in the Trinidad and Tobago....
runs a close second with his double solo wins and a joint win with Patrice Roberts
Patrice Roberts
Patrice Roberts is a soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago. She currently performs alongside popular fellow Soca artist Machel Montano in his band, Machel Montano HD...
). Fay-Ann now stands as the only female artist to win the Carnival Road March three times and the second to attain back-to-back wins in two consecutive years. Fay-Ann and husband Bunji also became parents in 2009 to a daughter, Syri, born on February 28, 2009, just a few weeks after Carnival.
Background
Now an official member of the Asylum band (previously known as "Censation"), founded by husband, Ian Alvarez Bunji GarlinBunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin July 14, 1978 is a Reggae Soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago. His real name is Ian Alvarez. He is of saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent. He married fellow Soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of legendary Soca singer Superblue...
. Fay-Ann is a former member of the band Invazion led by Naya George. Fay-Ann became a front-liner for the band Invazion and performed with them at many fete/concert events including the infamous 'Brass Festival' (now defunct) which was an annual event during the pre-Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago featuring a musical 'battle' between the hottest 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....
bands.
Songwriter
Fay-Ann writes many of her own songs, having learnt from her father, SuperblueSuperblue
Austin Lyons , better known as Superblue, Super Blue, and Blueboy, is a Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian, soca musician, ICON and lyricist.-Person:...
, who has won the Carnival Road March title eight times (He is second only to Aldwyn Roberts, sobriquet 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:...
), and is a six-time winner of the Trinidad Soca Monarch competition, which is the predecessor of the current International Soca Monarch
International Soca Monarch
The ' competition is an annual dual-contest soca music event, the finals of which are held on every Carnival Friday in Trinidad and Tobago. Contestants in the event may vie for two separate crowns or titles, the International Soca Monarch for uptempo songs, and International Groovy Soca Monarch...
. Fay-Ann's compositions have earned several nominations and wins of Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) music awards including Female Songwriter of the Year and she has also received honours (listed in Awards section) from the Soca Awards Organization (SAO) for her music. Fay-Ann was profiled along with other top local and internationally-renowned artists Machel Montano
Machel Montano
Machel Montano is a soca singer, record producer and songwriter based in the Trinidad and Tobago....
, Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin July 14, 1978 is a Reggae Soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago. His real name is Ian Alvarez. He is of saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent. He married fellow Soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of legendary Soca singer Superblue...
and Isaac Blackman in the documentary Soca Power in Trinidad and Tobago, the Trinidad edition of the six part film series titled Musique Creole. The documentary is available on DVD.
Awards
NACC Top 20 Award: Tribute To Super Blue (2009)SAO Hall Of Fame Award (2009)
SAO Soca Song Writer of the Year: Heavy T, Meet Super Blue, Wine Faster (2009)
SAO Overall Female Soca Artist of the Year (2009)
SAO Female Soca Performer of the Year (2009)
SAO Favorite Groove Soca - Female: Heavy T (2009)
SAO Favorite Up-tempo Soca - Female: Meet Super Blue (2009)
COTT Soca of the Year: Get On (2008)
SAO Female Soca Performer of the Year: Get On (2008)
SAO Overall Female Soca Artist of the Year: Get On (2008)
SAO Favorite Up-tempo Soca - Female: Get On (2008)
SAO Soca Song of the Year: Get On (2008)
COTT New Songwriter of the Year: Display (2004)
COTT Female Songwriter of the Year: Display (2004)
COTT Song of the Year: Display (2004)
List of Abbreviations
COTT: Copyright Organisation of 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...
NACC: National Action Cultural Committee (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...
)
SAO: Soca Awards Organization www.socawards.com
Carnival crowns
2003: Carnival Road MarchCarnival Road March
The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during Carnival. The Road March title is among the most prestigious titles in Trinidad Carnival. In Trinidad and Tobago the most Road march titles have gone to the Mighty Sparrow and...
2008: Carnival Road March
Carnival Road March
The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during Carnival. The Road March title is among the most prestigious titles in Trinidad Carnival. In Trinidad and Tobago the most Road march titles have gone to the Mighty Sparrow and...
2009: Carnival Road March
Carnival Road March
The Carnival Road March is the musical composition played most often at the "judging points" along the parade route during Carnival. The Road March title is among the most prestigious titles in Trinidad Carnival. In Trinidad and Tobago the most Road march titles have gone to the Mighty Sparrow and...
2009: International Soca Monarch
International Soca Monarch
The ' competition is an annual dual-contest soca music event, the finals of which are held on every Carnival Friday in Trinidad and Tobago. Contestants in the event may vie for two separate crowns or titles, the International Soca Monarch for uptempo songs, and International Groovy Soca Monarch...
2009: Groovy Soca Monarch
2009: International Soca Monarch
International Soca Monarch
The ' competition is an annual dual-contest soca music event, the finals of which are held on every Carnival Friday in Trinidad and Tobago. Contestants in the event may vie for two separate crowns or titles, the International Soca Monarch for uptempo songs, and International Groovy Soca Monarch...
: People's Choice
Recordings/discography
Iron and Steel, 2010Call Me, with Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin July 14, 1978 is a Reggae Soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago. His real name is Ian Alvarez. He is of saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent. He married fellow Soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of legendary Soca singer Superblue...
, 2010
Judgement Day, with 3Canal and Brother Resistance
Brother Resistance
Brother Resistance is a musician from Trinidad and Tobago.Born Lutalo Masimba, Brother Resistance became the lead singer of the Network Riddim Band, a Trinidadian soca ensemble, in 1970...
, 2010
Start Wining, 2010
Ah Something, 2010
True Lies, 2010
Bring It, (with Mr. Vegas), 2010 (ICC World Cup Cricket Theme Song)
Three Colours, (with David Rudder
David Rudder
David Michael Rudder is a calypsonian from Trinidad.-Career:David Rudder is one of the top calypsonians of all time. In 1977, he joined Charlie's Roots, one of the top bands in Trinidad and Tobago. He spent many years as one of the vocalists with the band...
and Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin
Bunji Garlin July 14, 1978 is a Reggae Soca artist from Trinidad and Tobago. His real name is Ian Alvarez. He is of saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent. He married fellow Soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of legendary Soca singer Superblue...
) Trinidad Stories, 2009
Meet SuperBlue, The Best of the Best Soca Hits 2009, 2009
Heavy T Bumper, Best of the Best Soca Grooves 2009, 2009
Wine Faster, (with Beenie Man
Beenie Man
Anthony Moses Davis , better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Grammy award winning Jamaican reggae artist. He is the self-proclaimed "King of the Dancehall".-Biography:...
), 2009
Get On, The Best of the Best Soca Hits 2008, 2008
Road Call, The best of the Best Soca Hits 2008, 2008
Who Standing, 2008
Lyrics King and Lyon Empress, (with Bunji Garlin), 2007
The Game of Love and Unity, (with Rupee
Rupee (musician)
Rupert Clarke , best known by his stage name Rupee, is a soca musician from Barbados. He was born in military barracks in Germany to a German mother and a Bajan father, who was serving in the British armed forces at the time. He later migrated to Barbados...
and Shaggy
Shaggy (musician)
Orville Richard Burrell , better known by his stage name Shaggy, is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and rapper. He is perhaps best known for his 1995 single "Boombastic" and 2000 single "It Wasn't Me"...
), 2007 (World Cup Cricket Theme)
Make Ah Stage, Trini Bashment Compilation 2K7 91.9 FM 2007
John Quickie, Da Mastamind Project 2 2007
Kya Jadu Hai, (with Andy Singh), 2007
Party, (with Miss Alysha), Trini Bashment 2006 Vol. 2, 2006
Somebody, (with Bunji Garlin, Blazer, Maximus Dan
Maximus Dan
Maximus Dan is a soca / dancehall musician. He is also known by his former stage name Maga Dan....
) Next Direction, 2006
Happy, (with Bunji Garlin and Ronnie McIntosh) Next Direction, 2006
That is Carnival, The Best of the Best Soca 2006: The Red Hot Compilation, Soca Gold 10th Anniversary, 2006
One Day, Da Ma$tamind Project, 2006
Breakaway, Trini Bashment Soca Compilation & Party Mix, 2005
Send Dem, (with Bunji Garlin) Flamestorm, 2005
Freedom, 2004
Clear De Road, (with Superblue
Superblue
Austin Lyons , better known as Superblue, Super Blue, and Blueboy, is a Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian, soca musician, ICON and lyricist.-Person:...
), 2004
Display, Iwer And Family: Ah Home, 2003
Focus, Iwer And Family: Ah Home, 2003
It's My Turn Now, (aka "My Time Now" with Invazion) Road March and Soca Monarch 2002 CD, 2002
Wave
Filmography
As HerselfInternational Soca & Groovy Soca Monarch '06 (2006)
Soca Power In Trinidad & Tobago [DVD] (2008)
Soca Gold 2008 [CD/DVD] (2008)
Soca Gold 2007 [CD/DVD] (2007)
Nikki on de Promenade
Sources
Nigel T. Reid The Crowning of A QueenTrinidad Guardian
Rhyners
COTT
Trinidad Calypso Tent Of The Air
Trinidad Music Store
New Soca Film Takes Centre Stage
TnTisland.com
Trini Jungle Juice
Toronto Online
Poison Dart online shop
CD Universe