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Barbados, gem of the Caribbean
as it is affectionately known,
boasts many outstanding musical
products. One such product is
a group of young and talented
musicians called Square One.
Formed in December of 1986 by
some teenagers fresh out of high
school. Square One has gone on
to become one of Barbados’ and
the Caribbean’s finest musical
ambassadors. Now in its 10th year
Square One holds the unique distinction
of being the only band in Barbados
to have maintained all of its
original members.
Known for their explosive high
energy performances and outstanding
vocals, the members of Square
One have captivated audiences
at home and abroad with their
scintillating performances. They
have become a major hit with the
local community and are highly
recommended as an act visitors
to the beautiful island of Barbados.
As a shining example of positive
youth and contemporary Barbadian
culture, the group has been the
recipient of several national
awards as follows:
The Musicians and Entertainers
Guild of Barbados (MEGOB)
Top Hotel Band Award 1988
Top Hotel Band Award 1989
The Barbados Tourism Authority’s
Top Hotel Band Award 1990
Top Hotel Band Award 1991
Top Nightclub Band Award 1991
Top Hotel Band Award 1992
Nightclub Band of the Year 1996
Nation’s Band of the Year 1993
Nation’s Band of the Year 1996
Richard Stoute’s Teen Talent Award
for outstanding Musicianship and
excellence in Entertainment 1991
Tune of the Crop Winners – 1996
Added to their list of accomplishments
the group was nominated for a
1992 Caribbean Music Award in
the categories of Best New Group
and Caribbean’s No.1 Band. The
following year (1993) Square One
became
The first Barbadian band to perform
at the internationally televised
Caribbean Music Awards presentation
ceremony, held at the world famous
Apollo Theatre in Harlem New York.
As a result of their frequent
travels, Square One has been aptly
labeled as Barbados’ musical ambassadors.
Their pulsating rhythms have taken
them to the French, English and
Dutch speaking Caribbean, Europe,
America and South America.
Other recordings of the band can
be found on the solo albums Eat
Drink and be Merry (1988) Special
(1992) and Square Roots (1995)
and on the Ice Records compilation
albums Illegal Tender (1991) Large
and In Charge (1992) Fire in the
Wave (1994) and Ringbang Rebel
Dance (1995), Square One’s tenth
anniversary year they launched
a versatile CD "Four Sides"
which includes the Tune Of the
Crop winning song "Raggamuffin."
In 1997 Square One released "Sweetness"
which featured carnival’s top
songs "In the Meantime"
and "Turn It Around"
which is also known as "The
Plumber."
This year the group released a
20 track CD "In Full Bloom"
showing again that they are currently
the forerunners in Ringbang Music.
This CD contains songs like the
Surinamese traditonal song "Faluma",
which is currently a popular carnival
party song and "25"
which celebrates 25 years of the
Barbados Crop Over Festival.
Square One have proven to be the
region’s No.1 Band and are continuing
to spread the word of "Ringbang"
worldwide.
Anderson Armstrong, "Blood",
vocalist and guitarist, is a founder
member of the band. He started
singing in local calypso competitions
in 1983, while still a high school
student, under the stage name
"Young Blood". He gained
national prominence in 1985 as
the youngest calypsonian to be
selected for the finals of national
calypso contest, the Pic o' de
Crop. Andy studied music up to
Grade 5 and began composing in
1982. All grown up now, these
days he performs under the name
"Blood". Andy is enjoying
tremendous popularity this year
with his hit "Turn it Around".
Winston Beckles, a founder member,
is the rhythm force of the band.
He learnt his chosen instrument
from Canadian drummer, Danny Mazar.
Winston, who practices sometimes
as much as 8-hours a-day, has
played rock and jazz. Jazz drummers
like Omar Hakim, formerly of "Weather
Report" have influenced him.
Cecil Riley, "O'Shaka",
is a founder member and lead vocalist
with the band. Blessed with a
rich, mellow voice he's featured
on "Funky Ragga", a
funk and ragga fusion on the CD
"Four Sides" and "Jam
Jam" on "Sweetness".
He appears as "O'Shaka"
in a leading Barbados calypso
tent during the annual Crop-Over
Festival and was a finalist in
the Festival's 1996 Party Monarch
contest. Paul Slater provides
the bass that drives Square One's
music. Another original member
who once was a commercial photographer,
Paul taught himself to play the
bass and has also been tutored
by internationally acclaimed pros,
Nicholas Brancker and Charles
D. Lewis. Alison Hinds joined
the band as a shy young girl and
is now one of the hottest female
vocalists in the Caribbean. In
1992, in a duet with another top
performer, John King, she won
the Caribbean Broadcasting Union's
Caribbean Song Contest with the
ballad "Hold You in a Song".
She was the 1996 Road March Queen
with the hit "Raggamuffin",
won the 1997 Party Monarch, and
shared the Road March crown, with
"In the Meantime" -
the first woman to win these titles.
Alison also won the Best Vocalist
(Female) Award in Barbados in
1996. Alison’s versatility makes
her as comfortable with a soothing
ballad as with a hot soca number.
Her more popular numbers on the
album "Sweetness" are
"Aye Aye Aye", "Ju
Ju", "Controller"
and "Sugar".
Terry Arthur, steel pannist, keyboardist
and percussionist joined Square
One in 1990, and has assumed the
pivotal roles of composer, arranger
and musical director. The CD "Four
Sides", showcases his talents
as a songwriter, having come under
the songwriting guidance of international
star and producer, Eddy Grant,
in 1995. His outstanding numbers
include the popular "Raggamuffin",
"Skettle", "Black
History", "Aye Aye Aye"
and "Sugar".
George Jones, keyboard player,
has been with the band since its
formation. As the spokesman of
the band he feels that "the
foundation has been laid and the
hard work is finally paying off."
He particularly enjoys the family
atmosphere of the band, and attributes
its years of togetherness to each
member having remained focused
and aware of his/her responsibility
to the group.
THE BAND
No name seemed to fit and they
kept ending up at square one.
A former teacher and entertainer,
Mac Fingall suggested that they
name the band "Square One".
That was in 1986. Today Square
One is one of the top bands in
Barbados and fast becoming one
of the most popular bands in the
Caribbean.
They have played for royalty,
world leaders and thousands of
party people all over the world.
They are particularly known for
their "happy" music
that help reduce some of the stress
of today’s world.
Their numerous tours overseas
to Europe, the Caribbean North
and South America, which has helped
to popularise their native Barbados,
have earned Square One the sobriquet
"The Ambassadors". Square
One's building discography includes,
among others, the CD albums "Sweetness"
(1997) and "Four Sides"
(1996) and the massive single
'Raggamuffin'.
AWARDS
The band began winning awards
scarcely a year after formation.
In 1988 and '89 they took the
Musicians and Entertainers Guild
of Barbados' Top Hotel Band Award.
In the Barbados Tourism Authority's
annual awards, they have won Top
Hotel Band in 1990, '91 and '92;
Top Nightclub Band 1991, and Nightclub
Band of the Year 1996.
Square One has also won the Nation
newspaper's Band of the Year title
in 1993 and '96, and Richard Stoute's
Teen Talent Award for outstanding
musicianship and Excellence in
Entertainment in 1991.
In the annual Barbados Crop-Over
Festival, they won Tune of the
Crop in 1996 (most popular tune
among street parade revelers)
and the Party Monarch Competition
in 1997. Band members Anderson
Armstrong (Blood), vocals and
guitar; Alison Hinds, vocals;
Winston Beckles, drummer; Cecil
Riley (O'Shaka), vocals; George
Jones, keyboards; Terry Arthur,
steel pan piano and percussion.
Paul Slater, can also be proud
of their 1992 nominations for
a Caribbean Music Award in the
categories best New Group and
Caribbean's #1 Band. |
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