Biography   Randy Winterdal is a gifted bassplayer and composer with a distinct personal style. Born on the beautiful Caribbean island Curacao, he started at the age of 15 to play bassguitar in local bands. His talent was soon recognized by local Jazz artist Rudy Emerenciana, who invited him to play in the first Jazzcafé […]

BIO Izaline Calister, Edisonwinnares in 2009, heeft als singer-songwriter de afgelopen 1 jaar een behoorlijke staat van dienst opgebouwd. De nummer Wow’i kariño, Kanta Hélele, Sa Sa Na Awasa en meer recentelijke Bendishona leverden de Antilliaanse zangeres in het Caribische gebied nummer 1 hits op. Haar studioalbums Soño di un Muhe, Mariposa, Krioyo, Kanta Hélele, […]

Bio   Dennis Aalse (Curaçao, 1965) studied Classical music and jazz at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam and music therapy at the Hogeschool Utrecht. Dennis is a musician, composer, arranger and music teacher. He can play the trumpet, trombone, tuba, horn and the piano. He is the founder of the Dennis Aalse Big Band. Furthermore, […]

BIO Born in England, Dean started playing music early and quickly decided for the saxophone as his instrument. By 18 he joined a local Jazz Youth Orchestra had also mastered the clarinet and flute. Dean was asked to join a local Caribbean dance band and a soul/funk band that went on to play many events […]

BIO If you ask the Caribbean native, Maruja, born on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, to describe her life and especially her musical life so far, her answer is likely to be ‘a journey’. And what a journey it has been… Maruja Bogaard From early beginnings, starring in musical TV shows from the age […]

BIO Jazz Vocalist, Vocal Coach, Song Writer, Choir director, Worshipper. Born in Guyana on 06051956. Father Musician, Mother Inspiration. Loves Music since he was 6 years old. Joined Catholic Choir at 11 years of age. Finished musical college before his 18th  birthday, Cum Laude Graduation. Represented college and country at CARIFESTA, honored with a certificate […]

Biografia Na aña 1980 mi a gradua na Brabants Conservatorium komo kitarista klasiko y e ora ei pami ya tabata kla ku mi no tabatin aspirashon pa sigi e direkshon ei. Mi a hasi e estudio djies pa sa algu mas di e mundu ei. Na aña 1981 mi a haña trabou komo dosente di […]

BIOGRAPHY Pernell Saturnino is a Grammy Award winner percussionist born in Curaçao, (former Netherlands Antilles). He started playing percussion at the age of nine. As an 18-year-old young adult he took a big step following his dream to become a professional percussionist by starting to study music seriously and joining one of the best folkloric […]

Michael Anthony Carl Arvelo. Fecha natalisio: 6 novèmber 1957. Mi ta ruman mayó, mi demas rumannan ta: Diello, Ralston i Viennaline. Mi tata: Miguel (Boy) Arvelo Mi mama: Epifania Salsbach Mi tio grandi Virgilio Delannoy tabata un di e fundadornan di Concordia Jazz Band den añanan 30. Mi ta bini di un famia di músikonan […]

Bio I am Justra Gómez. I was born on the island of Curaçao. I am Curaçonian and I learned to play jazz at FIM (Foundation Institute of Music). But, before that, I would like to say this: I first learned all about music from my father and my grandfather, Pachitu Borschotte. They were the ones […]

Bio MUSICAL EDUCATION Berklee College Boston, Usa– Master Certificate in Orchestration and Arrangement for Film, Tv and Games Conservatory R’Dam, Netherlands, Wereld Music Theory Piano, Composition, Arranging, String Ensemble with Jan Hartong. Piano Class Suzuki– method Self Learning HANON 60 Piano excersises method- Self Learning Czerny Method Piano method-Self Learning Private Trumpet and Theory class […]

Bio INFANSIA i DESAROYO: Ronchi a nase na Kòrsou na aña1952. Su mayornan ta prosedente di islanan karibense i ela lanta den e barionan Monte Verde i Cher Asile. Den e bario muzik i deporte tabata hopi gusta bou di hobennan. Ta pesei semper muzik tabata parti di Ronchi su bida. For di chikitu Ronchi […]

Bio Musiko bahista/ kitarista/areglista ku a toka fo’i su 12 aña den misa, fiesta di kas, club, hofi, Hotelnan, selebrashon formal/informal, pa riku, pober, ladron, Rei I Reina, Gobernador, evenementonan kultural, festivalnan di Tumba, Jazz i Pop.Ku mi 3 aña e interes a lanta tokando den kura di kas riba hember, wea, panchi. Tabata un […]

Biography Rose Mary Allen Rose Mary Allen was born on December, 25 1950 in Curaçao. She visited the Fatima College primary school and afterwards the Maria College. From 1965-1969 she visited the Maria Immaculata Lyceum in Curaçao. When she finished her secondary school, she went to the Netherlands to study Anthropology. After her study, she […]

Nomber: Ramon Penzo, 15 ougustus 1945 Prome instrument: 15 aña les di trompet na muziekschool na Hoogstraat Otrabanda serka sr Bongenaar, kapelmeester di Marine. Stop despues di  3 aña. Kumpra drumset na Sears i siña riba mi mes kon pa toka. Prome grupo: The Surveyors. Anthony Minguel, Tonchi, ruman di Mafalda, manager. Algun musiko Humphrey […]

BIO John James Willekes Is a professional Curacao born artist who started playing music at the age of 10. With a great passion to learn and to study music at an early age, he received a scholarship to study and graduated from the Conservatory of Music, Hato Rey, Puerto, Rico, with a Bachelor of Arts […]

Biography Composer, singer and producer BB Smooth (also known as Bibi Provence) born the 24th of February 1963 in Willemstad Curacao, She began singing in the children’s choir of her father Etzel Provence (well known musician and educator) when she was only 4 years old,  shortly after  taking piano lessons and music lessons at the local music school named CCC […]

Bio Born in Curacao 6 March 1962 Donald began his musical life in Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles. He studied classical music in Curacao at Music Academy Curacao Teachers where Mr. Edgar Palm, and Mr.Edward Elisabeth. After his studies,he and his band, Yopa, traveled to Venezuela where they got their first number 1 hit Plaza Caracas. He now […]

Born to a loving Family from the islands, (Curaçao)Anthony first showed enthusiasm for music tapping on pots and pans in the kitchen at the very young age of 3, Inspired by his father Anthony Steele discovered the distinct art of percussion. His professional education comes from the Community Music Center of Boston, the Boston Arts Academy High School, and […]

In this piece we bring you a classic from 1998. The classic is none other than Claudius Philips’s extremely fun gem “Con Bo Ta Come O.R.E.O.” from his album Call Me. It has been said often about classic gems featured on this site but it is no less true now: this is sure to put […]

In this entry we go to the island nation of the Dominican Republic and its reigning Queen of the Merengue, Milly Quezada. Born Milagros Quezada Borbón (1955) in San Carlos, Villa Francisca, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, she moved with her family to New York at a very early age and completed her education there. Her […]

We bring you a classic from the musical group ENOS, which stands for El Nuevo Ompi Stefania. The classic is none other than “Bekita Dams”. This Tumba became a huge hit upon release. It features verses from the poem “Bekita”, written by one of Curaçao’s greats of Papiamentu poetry Elis ‘Ompi Elis’ Juliana. It is […]

In this piece we bring you the Doble R classic “Ayo Marisse” from their 1975 album Super Special Stars. Although the subject matter is a bit somber (two friends fall in love with the same woman and both decide to end their relationships with her), this song is sure to have you floating. It is […]

Boy Thode has released over 40 albums, both as a solo artist and as a member of ERA Outentiko. In 2016 ERA Outentiko released the album “The Sky Is The Limit” which became a gigantic hit in Curaçao thanks in no small part to the smash “E Sekreto”, which featured Boy Thode on lead vocals. […]

In this piece we deliver a blast from the past courtesy of Ced Ride’s classic performance of the immortal Pierre Lauffer poem “Balada Di Buchi Fil”. The lament and passion in Ced Ride’s voice as he tells the unfortunate story of the slave Buchi Fil while hitting every note with force and dedication is sure […]

In this instance we bring you Arnell i su Orquesta’s 2003 version of “Ola Wawa”. This ode to fishermen tells a vivid story while mesmerizing the listeners with melodic Salsa rhythms. This band has been entertaining the Dutch Caribbean community for decades now and the song “Ola Wawa” is just the right length to keep […]

In this instance we bring you yet another trip back in time. This time it comes courtesy of Doble R and their classic piece “Kontent’i Mirabu”. With legendary composer Rignald Recordino at the helm this band was a conveyor belt of hit songs on the island of Curaçao for nearly 40 years. One of their […]

Anselmus “Boy” Dap, born October 25th 1933, needs no introduction in Curaçao. He is widely known on the island as “E Tata di Tumba” (The Father of Tumba), a title which he received after he won Curaçao’s Festival di Tumba a record ten times. His first big hit was the Tumba gem “E Djaka”, which […]

In this entry we bring you the story of Sesenne, a Saint Lucian singer and cultural icon. She was born Marie Selipha Charlery (later Descartes when she married) in La Point, Micoud, Saint Lucia on the 28th of March 1914. The area where she was born and grew up is the patois Kwéyòl-speaking part of […]

We bring you one of the many classics from the legendary Macario ‘Macay’ Prudencia. It is the crisply lively gem “Bròs Bròs”. The immortal Macay Prudencia infused all his productions with his jolly and folksy character and this classic is no exception. The way he lists and expresses his appreciation for the different types of […]

We take you back to 1995, when the legendary Curaçaoan band GIO Fuertisimo gave a live performance at Curaçao’s Festival Center. The songs they performed were all crowd winners but there was one in particular that stood out. It was the ageless classic “Biba Bai Laga Nan”. The topic continues to resonate with those who […]

Erquimides ‘Kimu’ Candelaria was a legendary Curaçaoan singer-songwriter who achieved massive fame in his day thanks in no small part to his characteristically soulful voice. He had great success both as a solo artist and as a member of the group Trio Melodias, releasing a slew of hits in the 1950s and 60s. In this […]

We bring you a single by the Bonairean superstar Ir-Sais that reached many ears back in its day. The single in question is the profound “Awo Mi Mes A Mire”, released in 2011. The subject matter is admittedly somewhat of a downer, but Ir-Sais’s silky voice most certainly is not. And the easy going melody also […]

We bring you a classic from Curaçaoan superband Gentz. And no, it’s not “No Bai”. The magical memory lane treasure featured here is the 2015 single “Skonde Pa Amor”. Although the subject matter is not exactly jovial – I mean, the verse “If love is in the air / I will never breathe again” doesn’t […]

We bring you “Kuchi Kuchi”, the classic love letter in song from Komèr. This single became a huge hit in its day and you can see why; the Hot Merengue melody and the lead vocalist’s cooing vocals as she professes her love are nothing short of enchanting. If you’re feeling down, this song is sure […]

In this piece we bring you another gem from the past in the form of Rizam’s 1998 classic “Bule Bula”, sung by Paul Welvaart. This song had a very significant message. It namely urged listeners, male listeners in particular, to always seek the non-violent path to resolve issues, to ‘jump over’ conflicts instead of firing […]

We take another grab in the vault of Caribbean music and pull out a powerhouse in the form of the Cuban musical empress Celia Cruz. Born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso on October 21st, 1925, in Havana, Cuba, this singer of Latin music was the most popular Latin artist of the 20th […]

In this piece we bring you an Aruban classic from the Aruban hitmaker Claudius Philips. There are so many masterpieces to choose from when it comes to this Dutch Caribbean legend, but in this instance we place the spotlight on an album of his in particular which is the album We Are Back At Last. […]

This item features the talents of the living legend Erwin Prudencia and the late legend Julián Coco performing a Curaçaoan Wals at a concert of the latter in Curaçao some time in the 1980s. In the video Julián Coco also puts some of his signature quick wit and folksy humor on display. Enjoy!

We take another grab in the vault of Caribbean musical history and bring you a short film created in 1962. The film was titled Solo Sali and was filmed in Curaçao with an all-Curaçaoan cast and all-Curaçaoan music and is a celebration of Curaçaoan folk legends, culture and customs. Enjoy this blast from the past! […]

Calypso Rose – born Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis on April 27th 1940, in Bethel Village, Trinidad & Tobago – grew up in a small village on the island of Tobago, one of the two Caribbean islands forming the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. She composed her first calypso at the age of 15 in 1955. […]

In this piece we bring you a classic song that will envelop you in nostalgia and warm loving sentiments. This classic is none other than the La Perfecta record “Liefdespaar”. The heavily accented Dutch somehow adds to the song’s alluring charm. La Perfecta released many smash hits in its day and this song is a […]

In this piece the album “Solo Sali” by Curaçaoan music luminary Rudy Plaate receives a shining spotlight. Released in 1960, this album has reached immortal status with many tunes that have become as transcendent as they are resplendent. Among the album’s ageless masterpieces are “Minirok” – which, oddly, Rudy Plaate himself was not particularly fond […]

This entry features the biography of Padu del Caribe. The man, the legend, the father of Aruban culture: Padu del Caribe is perhaps one of the most internationally renowned and influential artists his beloved native island of Aruba has ever known. Starting with the release of his first record in late 1960 – which was […]

In this item we bring you a throwback to a very influential album in Dutch Caribbean music lore. Namely the 1979 Tipiko Santa Rosa album “Kob’e Pos”, which features among others the resounding classics “Mi Djègèdjègè” and “Un Poko Mas”. The band itself was founded in the 1930s by Francisco “Chi” Domatilia and from that […]

Well, the title pretty much speaks for itself, right? Or does it? It’s a dicey game using the word influential. But when you look at the careers of the artists on this list, the impact they have had on their respective Caribbean genres and how they almost single-handedly catapulted them to global celebrity, the role […]

In this entry we feature the legendary bassist and guitarist Julián Coco (full name Julián Basílico Coco), born on the 9th of January in 1924 in Curaçao. He grew up in the Otrobanda district of Willemstad and taught himself how to play the cuatro, mandolin and guitar. In 1953 he received a scholarship to go […]

We venture into music played on walls. What does that mean? Francis Sling’s story will give you the answer. The artist known as Francis Sling was born in the year 1979 in Curaçao, where he grew up in the district of Seru Fortuna. He lived on the island until he was 20 years old, when […]

In this entry we take you back to 1992 when the Curaçao’s Carnival season was bewitched by the timeless Tumba classic “Kumpli Kuné” (Fulfill Your Obligation). Which made its debut in the Festival di Tumba of that year and left an indelible mark on all the following carnival seasons. The occasion marked the first time […]

You ever heard of Joseph Sickman Corsen?  Well, you should have. This Curaçaoan is considered by many to be the father of Papiamentu literature, for which he blazed a trail with the immortal poem “Atardi”, published in Curaçao on September 27th,1905. Said poem established Papiamentu as a medium with viable profundity when it comes to […]

In Curaçao we all know Oswin ‘Chin’ Behilia today as the man with the golden bronze voice, author of our national anthem surrogate “Plegaria” and a conscientious singer-songwriter who over the span of his career has provided vivid catalogs of the every day lives of Curaçaoans from many walks of life on his beloved island. […]

In this entry we press pause on a specific year in music history which took place in 1961. You know what happened then? Drama in the Caribbean sea, off the coast of the small Caribbean island of Curaçao, which inspired a song. Vague, right? Let us give you the backstory. In the year 1961, the […]

You’ve heard of New Zealand, right? That unimaginably far-off island nation where they filmed “The Lord of the Rings”, that land of sharp mountain peaks, rugby and Maori tribes? Well, you know what else is omnipresent over there? The Caribbean music form Reggae. As a matter of fact, you will be hard-pressed to find a […]

Salsa music! That whirlwind of congas, horns, intricate dance moves and suave attitudes. The mastery of which has become the main armament in the seduction weaponry of many a Don Juan this side of Antonio Banderas in his ‘Desperado’ days. The global phenomenon, the international dance found in pretty much all the metropolitan cities of the […]

Back in April of 2004, Reggaetón was everywhere in Puerto Rico; shopping malls, schools, restaurants, bars, cars, busses, beaches. And this was before the big explosion. Reggaetón was gaining momentum in other countries by then with artists like Tego Calderón, Luny Tunes and Don Omar getting airplay, sure, but it was not until October when […]

You ever heard of the Lambada? That Afro-Brazilian dance that gained international popularity in the 1980s? It was also known as the Forbidden Dance. Ring a bell now? Well, that ‘forbidden dance’ title was all for show to sell movie tickets, my friend. Try living it for real, generation after generation for over 350 years. […]

In this entry we take a look at a period in musical history. Particularly one in Curaçao’s region namely that of Merengue and the Dominican Republic. You can’t talk about Merengue without talking about the Dominican Republic. It is one of the country’s premier exports. In close contention with Prince Royce, Romeo Santos, Zoe Saldana, […]

Ever heard of the Caribbean region of Colombia?  In case you haven’t I’m talking about those eight states to the country’s north, straddled by or directly in the Caribbean Sea. And in case you’re saying “Caribbean-Shmaribbean, it’s still Colombia, right? Why should I have heard of that one particular region?” Yes, the majority of those […]

Ash Wednesday, a day when many of Christian and Catholic faith, among others, go to church to receive their blessed ashes on their forehead and a day that marks the beginning of Lent, a period of piety, repentance and self-denial, marks the beginning of a new period. For many people on several Caribbean islands, among […]