El-A-Kru

El-A-Kru is a prominent Soca band in Antigua. 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", [ [http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=214040047511012007&an=185006028210312007&ac=Local Antigua, still real nice - Part II] , "The Antigua Sun", November 1, 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008.] and was used extensively by the Antigua Ministry of Tourism in their customer care initiative for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. [ [http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=254326057711202006&an=362022078711192006&ac=Local 'Tizzy' is voice of Team 2K7’s marketing drive] , "The Antigua Sun", November 20, 2006. Accessed 16 May 2008.] 'Expose', another single from the "Antigua Nice" album, topped MTV Tempo's Cross Caribbean Countdown for several weeks in 2007. [Kevin Jackson, [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20070916T210000-0500_127424_OBS_SALANYDE_SPREADING_REGGAE_MESSAGE_IN_GRAND_CAYMAN.asp Catch di Riddim] , "The Jamaica Observer", September 17, 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008.] 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 progam in her "International Sounds of Soca" series for BBC 1Xtra. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/alexjordan/20071227.shtml From Parang to Liming, Celebrate Christmas with Alex Jordan on 1Xtra] , BBC 1Xtra, 24 December 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008.] The band was also nominated for the "Overall Soca Band of the Year" at the 2007 International Soca Awards. [ [http://www.trinijunglejuice.com/pr2007-isa5-nominees.html International Soca Awards press release] published on trinijunglejuice.com. Accessed 16 May 2008.]

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. [* [http://www.oecsculture.com/member_pages/ext_infopage.php?cty=Regional&id=15 OECS Culture Fiesta Programme 2006 - Artists] , Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Accessed 16 May 2008.] . In 2007, they toured the UK with the Antigua Carnival Roadshow, marking the 50th anniversary of the Carnival. [ [http://www.ethnicnow.com/channels/editors-choice/press-release/1/1108/50th-antigua-carnival-roadshow-comes-to-the-uk!.html 50th Antigua Carnival Roadshow Comes to the UK!] , "EthnicNow", April 26, 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008] . 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. [ [http://www.antiguamusicfestival.com 2008 Lineup] on the official site of the Antigua and Barbuda International Music Festival. Accessed 16 May 2008.]

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 Carnival with their first hit single outside Antigua, 'Lethal Batty', performing in 19 shows over 28 days. [Cedriann J Martin, [http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:2ZR5IDv3umgJ:www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_woman_mag%3Fid%3D161273013+%22Burning+Flames%22+Tizzy&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5 Tizzy Making Antigua proud] , "Trinidad & Tobago Express", February 2, 2008. Accessed 16 May 2008.]

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. [Kevin Jackson, [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20070916T210000-0500_127424_OBS_SALANYDE_SPREADING_REGGAE_MESSAGE_IN_GRAND_CAYMAN.asp Catch di Riddim] , "The Jamaica Observer", September 17, 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008.] Before joining El-A-Kru, she was primarily known as a dancer and was one of the original members of The Antigua Dance Academy. [ [http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=281935077507132005&an=101222069808312007&ac=Special%20Feature Expose-ing Tizzy] , "The Antigua Sun", August 31, 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008.]

*Rohan “Sylky” Hector, keyboards. He is the original founder of El-A-Kru and is also the band's producer, arranger, and musical director. [ [http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=214845107204092008&an=420209106404092008&ac=Local Antigua and Barbuda joins regional film, music movement] , "The Antigua Sun", April 10 2008. Accessed 16 May 2008.]

*Glenroy “Zamba” Richards, vocalist and guitarist. He is also the primary songwriter of the group. [Avalene Harris, [http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-11-15/features5.html Antigua soca Kru highlights its cultural essence] , "The Trindad Guardian", November 15, 2006. Accessed 16 May 2008.]

*Curtis "Suckerphish" Roach, bass. Roach was formerly the road manager for Burning Flames, and bass guitarist for Onyan and the Tropikal Storm Band.

*Toyan "Dr. Slim" Jeffrey, drums.

Former band members

*"Naycha Kid" (Junior Afori Edwards) – now a solo vocalist. [ [http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=281935077507132005&an=245118047702022007&ac=Entertainment Chosen Sounds brings the heat with first all star tour] , "The Antigua Sun", February 3, 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008.]
*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 Festival final in Cuba.

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)

References

Further Sources
*Susan Noyce, [http://wemagonline.blogspot.com/2007/08/we-spotlight-all-in-na-tizzy.html WE Spotlight - All In-na ‘Tizzy’] , [http://www.wemagonline.com/ "WE Magazine"] (Toronto), Issue 1, August 2007. Accessed 16 May 2008
* [http://bvimusicfest.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=43 Kru Mania] , British Virgin Islands Music Festival.
* [http://label.faluma.com/our-partners/el-a-kru El-A-Kru discography] on Faluma Digital Soca Music Label.

External links

* [http://www.Elakru.com El-A-Kru official web site]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYocW-tEx0A Video for El-A-Kru's song "Off Limits"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Y60zGtATc Video for El-A-Kru's song "Expose" featuring "Tizzy"] .