IS WE TING CD: Music Orchids For You
REACHING FOR THE STARS[This commemorative,
limited edition is sold out]
 Is We Ting – Music Orchids For You was born of
shame and will live on in glory. The production of this compilation of
Guyanese music artistry demonstrates, reassuringly, that Guyanese can
manage themselves with the highest of ideals. We strive to ascend and we
scale the obstacles when we want to do so.
Guyanese are proud of their musical creativity and
any one of the selections on Is We Ting will kindle that pride.
The compilation is a showcase of our musical heritage with renditions
that "evoke the essence of being Guyanese." Almost all works of art
elicit reaction to a personal interpretation expressed by an individual.
In that regard, one is likely to be contradicted and with that in mind I
venture to expose my opinion. There are two selections that stand out,
not only in this collection but also in any collection of popular
musical works by Guyanese.
Come Leh We Go Sookie by King Fighter and Ting
A Ling by Doreen Gravesande tell profound stories about Guyanese in
the music industry. King Fighter’s 1998 rendition of his classic
Sookie confirms what was implied in his first recording decades
earlier. Chutney was not born then but King Fighter may have perceived
it. A pioneering status can be attributed to him for this work.
Similarly, Ting A Ling is a remarkable recording
considering the time, place and art form mix. Here is Doreen Gravesande,
a soprano voice in popular music, a ping-pong (the precursor to the
tenor steel pan) being played and a brass line accompaniment in a
tribute to steelband music. The recording was conceived and produced by
Al Seales in his studios in Georgetown in 1954.
To Al Seales we are to be grateful forever. He was a
man of humble beginnings, who led a simple life but clearly had
prodigious talent and musical foresight. Few know of his influence but
the records show he towered over many more acclaimed producers. And it
was his encouragement and recording of Billy Moore and the Four Lords
that, in a way, led us to Is We Ting – Music Orchids For You.
Billy Moore passed away late in 2002 and was buried
as a pauper, "unknown". In January 2003, a newspaper report circulated
on the Internet about his re-interment through the generosity of
musician Eddy Grant.
Scandalized at the initial treatment of a musician
leader who had given the country such vocal excellence as Happy
Holidays and An Orchid For You, a few email correspondents
reacted with purpose. They, the CD’s production team, conceived a
Tribute to Billy Moore, corrupted Dave Martins’ title suggestion of IS
WE OWN into Is We Ting, and produced this compilation from
donations by the artistes and publishers of the selections. The
Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc., enthusiastically adopted
and financed the project as a fundraiser. Proceeds from the sale of the
CDs are to support retired and needy artistes, as well as contemporary
and emerging artistes.
We trust that Al and Billy will clap hard at our
efforts to honor them and their colleagues wherever they are making gems
of music in their new world.
Ronald H. Lammy
Background
GUYFOLKFEST and eCaroh.com have formed an
alliance to provide marketing, public relations and promotional services for
the Is We Ting CD. eCaroh brings
expertise in Caribbean music production, distribution, marketing and
promotions. These attributes are complementary to the artistic support
mission of GUYFOLKFEST. Together, GUYFOLKFEST and eCaroh.com provide
tangible support for sustaining indigenous Guyanese artistry.
GUYFOLKFEST is part of The Guyana Cultural Association,
Inc., a registered non-profit in New York and is the executive producer of
the Is We Ting compilation. The
CD project initiative arose from the intent to provide some support to the
well being of those artistes who contributed to Guyana's musical heritage.
We also plan to assist up and coming artistes in publicizing their work, as
well as promoting Guyanese performing arts in general. The funds from the
sale of this CD will be shared as the need is justified to the board of
Guyana Cultural Association.
LICENSING CREDITS –
All Tracks Are Provided By the Generosity Of The
Individuals Or Businesses Named In Bold Alongside The Title:
| Come Leh We Go Sookie - King Fighter |
Dawad Philip, Gary McIntyre, Roland Guy,
Mervyn Taylor and Errol Ince |
| Sancho/Guiana - Korokwa Folk Choir |
Deryck Bernard |
| Cool Dive - Al Seales/ Harry Whitaker |
Raygems Music ASCAP |
| Guyana Baboo - Terry Gajraj |
Terry Gajraj |
| The Weed Song – Bill Rogers |
Roger Howell Hinds |
| Pakaraima - Dennis DeSouza |
Dennis DeSouza |
| My Guyana - Bing Serrao & The Ramblers |
Maurice Serrao |
| Ting A Ling - Doreen Gravesande |
Raygems Music ASCAP |
| Masquerade Band – The Tradewinds |
Dave Martins |
| Sleepwalk – Reggie Paul |
Reggie Paul |
| Jane Engage - Police Male Voice Choir |
Commissioner of Police (Guyana)
|
| Think It Over – Ivor Lynch |
Ivor Lynch |
| Guyana With Love - Keith Waithe |
www.keithwaithe.com |
| Granny Fit - Lady Guymine |
Monica Chopperfield/Herman Hall |
| Satira Gal/Lotan Gal/Uncle Joe/Aunt Bess – Hugh
Sam |
Chainlink Music Publishing ASCAP |
| Long Long Time -Tony Mangra |
Tony Mangra |
| Sweet Island Woman - Roy Geddes Silver Tones
Steelband |
Roy Geddes |
| Massacuraman - Yoruba Singers |
Raygems Music ASCAP |
| Oh Beautiful Guyana - Chronicle Atlantic Symphony
Steel Orchestra |
Rudolph Bishop |
GENERAL INFORMATION
| Executive Producer: |
The Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc.
|
| Production Team: |
Chico Khan, Claire Goring, Godfrey Chin, Ivor
Lynch, Ken Corsbie, Malcolm Hall, Maurice Serrao, Ray Seales, Vibert
Cambridge and Ronald Lammy, coordinator. |
| Recording Producer: |
eCaroh Communications, Inc.
www.eCaroh.com
|
| Mastered By: |
Remar Studios, Miami, Florida (www.reggiepaul.com)
|
| Selections Editor: |
Production Team |
| Track Sequence: |
Reggie Paul |
| Cover Design Concept: |
Ronald Lammy |
| Cover Art and Image |
© Tony Phillips 2003
http://www.aeorart2000.com |
| Booklet Design, Editing and Layout: |
Ashton Franklin and Claire A. Goring |
| Printing: |
Millennium Print Shop |
Acknowledgements:
A big thank you to Maggie Lawrence, Bertie Chancellor
and the staff at the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation for their
assistance in identifying and compiling details about the selections.
TRACK SOURCES
Following is a list of the Guyanese LPs, cassettes and
CDs from which the Is We Ting donations were obtained. We thank the
artistes, publishers and copyright holders for their generosity. All
selections are composed by Guyanese except Sleepwalk.
Come Leh We Go Sookie (Composer: Shurland Wilson) -
King Fighter – Vocals
Living Legends Of Calypso…The Glamour Boys Again -
http://ecaroh.com/calypso/living_legends.htm
Sancho/Guiana - Korokwa Folk Choir – Sancho
(Traditional) Soloist: Liz Daniels; Guiana (Composer: Ramjohn Holder)
Soloists: Liz Daniels & Tydale Martinborough
Folk Guyana Style...A Collection of Folk Songs
Cool Dive - (Composer: Al Seales) Al Seales & Harry
Whitaker - Saxophones
Forever Gems -
http://www.gems-av.com/gemsav.html
Guyana Baboo - (Composer: Terry Gajraj) Terry Gajraj -
Vocals
X –The Best of Terry Gajraj –
http://www.terrygajraj.com
Terry Gajraj - Bhaita Gana
The Weed Song (Composer: Augustus Hinds AKA Bill
Rogers) – Bill Rogers - Vocals
Shantos From Guyana Where It All Started Bill Rogers
Pakaraima - (Composer: Dennis De Souza) - Dennis
DeSouza – Piano
Caribbean Paradise
My Guyana (Composers: Bing, Bernie & Maurice Serrao) -
Bing Serrao & The Ramblers – Vocals
The Three In One Saga -
sdmrecordings@ca.inter.net
for Canadian distribution
http://ecaroh.com/easy_listening/bingserrao_3in1saga.htm
Ting A Ling -(Composers: Al Seales & Basie Thomas) -
Doreen Gravesande - Vocals
Forever Gems -
http://www.gems-av.com/gemsav.html
Masquerade Band – (Composer: Dave Martins) The
Tradewinds – Vocals
Back Home –
http://www.dtradewinds.com/contact.html
http://ecaroh.com/calypso/tradewinds_back_home.htm
Sleepwalk – (Composers: Santo, Johnny and Ann Farina)
Reggie Paul – Guitar
Tropical Guitar -
http://www.reggiepaul.com/tropicalguitar.html
http://ecaroh.com/easy_listening/reggiepaul_tropicalguitar.htm
Jane Engage - (Traditional) Police Male Voice Choir -
Jane Engage - Folk Songs of Guyana
Think It Over – (Composer: Ivor Lynch) - Ivor Lynch –
Vocals
Released as a single : Email:
EPLRECORDS@Aol.com
Guyana With Love - (Composer: Keith Waithe) - Keith
Waithe – Flute
Mellifluous: Blossoming Into Truth -
http://www.keithwaithe.com/
Granny Fit - (Composers: Donald Grant/ Monica
Chopperfield) Lady Guymine – Vocals
Everybody’s Magazine World Calypso Monarch I -
http://everybodysmag.com/videos.htm
See also
http://ecaroh.com/calypso/
Satira Gal/Lotan Gal/Uncle Joe/Aunt Bess – Hugh Sam -
Piano
A Folksong Concertino & Folksongs Of Guyana - Email:
chainlinkrecords@aol.com
Long Long Time - (Composer: Tony Mangra) Tony Mangra –
Vocal
Long Long Time -
http://tonymangra.com/albums/long_long_time/index.html
See also
http://ecaroh.com/whatsnew.htm
Sweet Island Woman - Roy Geddes Silver Tones Steelband
(Composer: John DrePaul)
Roy Geddes Silver Tones Steelband
Massacuraman - Yoruba Singers (Composer: Yoruba
Singers)
Jamz from GEMS - Hot Singles From 1970s -
http://www.gems-av.com/gemsav.html
O Beautiful Guyana - (Composer: Valerie Rodway) -
Chronicle Atlantic Symphony Steel Orchestra
On Tour- Chronicle Atlantic Symphony Steel & Brass Orchestra
|
