Ras Shorty I (October 6, 1941-July 12, 2000) was a soca musician, known as … Read Full Bio ↴Ras Shorty I (October 6, 1941-July 12, 2000) was a soca musician, known as the Father of Soca and The Love Man. He was born Garfield Blackman in Barrackpore, Trinidad and Tobago,[1] and rose to fame as Lord Shorty with his 1963 hit "Clock and Dagger". He started out writing songs and performing in the calypso genre. In the 1970s, he began experimenting with calypso by blending it with the local chutney—the music of Trinidad's East Indian population—using instruments such as the sitar and tabla. The style was dubbed "soca".
Lord Shorty, as he is still known, released his hit song "Indrani" in 1973, which is considered the first recorded soca piece. The following year's Endless Vibrations earned him a devoted fan base, and a following of musicians who began performing in his style. His fame continued to grow throughout the 1970s, and he became one of the country's top performers. He recorded tracks such as Kim and Money Eh No Problem, which was a stinging political and social commentary based on the words of Trinidad's then Prime Minister, Eric Williams of the People's National Movement. Money Eh No Problem was used in a political advertising campaign in 2000 for the United National Congress.
In his early days, he was a known womanizer and fathered 23 children. In 1984, he voiced his disenchantment with soca, claiming it was being used for the wrong reasons. A short time thereafter, he embraced a strict form of Christianity, adopted the name Ras Shorty I and moved with his family to the Piparo forest in the hills of southern Trinidad, where he and his family focused on creating faith-based music.
In the late 1980s, he began recording again, fusing soca and gospel in a style he called Jamoo. He continued recording into the late 1990s, writing hits like Watch Out My Children, which focuses on the dangers of drug abuse. The song was recorded in ten languages and was adopted by the UN in an anti-cocaine campaign. He toured transnationally with his band, the Love Circle, which consisted mainly of family members. The Love Circle included his wife Claudette and sons Eldon, Sheldon and Isaac, who have gone on to record several highly infectious hits, such as "Blessed are the Elders" and "To The Ceiling". His daughters, Marge, Neheilet and Avion Blackman also have successful careers in recording and fashion design.
The family aims to bring across positive messages with their music, focusing especially on youth. They also exhort modern soca artists to preach positivity and the word of God through their music.
Ras Shorty I died in 2000 of multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer.
Lord Shorty, as he is still known, released his hit song "Indrani" in 1973, which is considered the first recorded soca piece. The following year's Endless Vibrations earned him a devoted fan base, and a following of musicians who began performing in his style. His fame continued to grow throughout the 1970s, and he became one of the country's top performers. He recorded tracks such as Kim and Money Eh No Problem, which was a stinging political and social commentary based on the words of Trinidad's then Prime Minister, Eric Williams of the People's National Movement. Money Eh No Problem was used in a political advertising campaign in 2000 for the United National Congress.
In his early days, he was a known womanizer and fathered 23 children. In 1984, he voiced his disenchantment with soca, claiming it was being used for the wrong reasons. A short time thereafter, he embraced a strict form of Christianity, adopted the name Ras Shorty I and moved with his family to the Piparo forest in the hills of southern Trinidad, where he and his family focused on creating faith-based music.
In the late 1980s, he began recording again, fusing soca and gospel in a style he called Jamoo. He continued recording into the late 1990s, writing hits like Watch Out My Children, which focuses on the dangers of drug abuse. The song was recorded in ten languages and was adopted by the UN in an anti-cocaine campaign. He toured transnationally with his band, the Love Circle, which consisted mainly of family members. The Love Circle included his wife Claudette and sons Eldon, Sheldon and Isaac, who have gone on to record several highly infectious hits, such as "Blessed are the Elders" and "To The Ceiling". His daughters, Marge, Neheilet and Avion Blackman also have successful careers in recording and fashion design.
The family aims to bring across positive messages with their music, focusing especially on youth. They also exhort modern soca artists to preach positivity and the word of God through their music.
Ras Shorty I died in 2000 of multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer.
Who God Bless
Lord Shorty Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Who God Bless' by these artists:
J-Rexxx Shane is in a cool band He plays the little man Acting…
Ras Shorty I spoken: Because he has set his love upon Me, therefor…
St. Matthew Gold on me god bless Hoes want me god bless Foes want…
Vybz Kartel & Spice Yes, I was afraid, I was terrified No one knows what…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lord Shorty:
Endless Vibrations Garfield Blackman ("Lord Shorty", later "Ras Shorty", 1941 –…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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DEW nada
WHO GOD BLESS by Ras Shorty I
(lyrics transcribed by DEWnada)
(Psalm 91:14-16)
"Cause he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he has known my Name.
He shall call upon me and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble.
I will deliver and honor him.
WIth long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
The workers of iniquity dig a pit for me.
Now they're waiting for me to fall in,
trying to take my bread and butter with lies and propaganda.
But they're foolin'. They're only foolin'.
I will not be afraid of what man can do to me.
Man you see is only vanity.
You see, who God bless no man curse.
He shall never hunger or thirst.
Who God bless no man shall ever curse.
He shall be first. He shall be first.
a-ha um-hum
(charismatic utterances: Lord wo-oh um yeah woh)
All these years of toil burning the midnight oil,
creating something from nothing.
Now it reach maturity and gain popularity,
some of them claiming its their own thing.
But as sure as truth on earth prevails finally.
So the death of lies and deceit is a certainty.
You see, who God bless no man curse.
He shall never hunger or thirst.
Who God bless no man shall ever curse.
He shall be first. He shall be first.
a-ha um-hum
(charismatic utterances:
hey hey a-ha ganga ya ya ge ge oh yeah yeah hey ho-oh oh lord)
All this envy and jealousy is causing disharmony.
It's appalling and frustrating.
For whosoever dig at a pit they shall fall in it.
What they sowing they shall be reaping.
But my house is strong and no one can put it down.
The foundation is from now until kingdom come.
You see, who God bless no man curse.
He shall never hunger or thirst.
Who God bless no man shall ever curse.
He shall be first. He shall be first.
aha umhum
(charismatic utterances: wo-oh hey-ey...)
Riyadh Rafique
Shorty's been gone for 20 years, yet this song is pure Gold!! Rest in Peace & in Heaven with the Lord and His angels 👼 Ras Shorty I!! Lord Shorty (1941-2000)
Dave Gustave
This number is AMAZING in so many ways. Powerful message, sweet music.
Ted Emmanuel Vidal
This song is my mantra; just can't stop listening to this masterpiece!
DEW nada
WHO GOD BLESS by Ras Shorty I
(lyrics transcribed by DEWnada)
(Psalm 91:14-16)
"Cause he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he has known my Name.
He shall call upon me and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble.
I will deliver and honor him.
WIth long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
The workers of iniquity dig a pit for me.
Now they're waiting for me to fall in,
trying to take my bread and butter with lies and propaganda.
But they're foolin'. They're only foolin'.
I will not be afraid of what man can do to me.
Man you see is only vanity.
You see, who God bless no man curse.
He shall never hunger or thirst.
Who God bless no man shall ever curse.
He shall be first. He shall be first.
a-ha um-hum
(charismatic utterances: Lord wo-oh um yeah woh)
All these years of toil burning the midnight oil,
creating something from nothing.
Now it reach maturity and gain popularity,
some of them claiming its their own thing.
But as sure as truth on earth prevails finally.
So the death of lies and deceit is a certainty.
You see, who God bless no man curse.
He shall never hunger or thirst.
Who God bless no man shall ever curse.
He shall be first. He shall be first.
a-ha um-hum
(charismatic utterances:
hey hey a-ha ganga ya ya ge ge oh yeah yeah hey ho-oh oh lord)
All this envy and jealousy is causing disharmony.
It's appalling and frustrating.
For whosoever dig at a pit they shall fall in it.
What they sowing they shall be reaping.
But my house is strong and no one can put it down.
The foundation is from now until kingdom come.
You see, who God bless no man curse.
He shall never hunger or thirst.
Who God bless no man shall ever curse.
He shall be first. He shall be first.
aha umhum
(charismatic utterances: wo-oh hey-ey...)
Peter DeCoteau
I think this is Shorty's best song out of the entourage of music he compiled. Yes, this song is about him being dissed by the people who jumped on the SOCA bandwagon and was not giving acknowledgement to all the work he did to create this new song. He felt totally jilted when all the bands started making the hits and he felt left out. He just did not keep up with them. Sparrow, Rose, Shadow, Kitch(Sugar Bum Bum), Charlie's Roots, Kalyan, Maestro(RIP), Ed Watson, Merchant, and all the Caribbean islands, and many more were churning out "hits". It appears he felt left behind. It appears that he did not have the kind of energy to play the kind of SOCA which was heading into a commercial direction. he just changed his whole lifestyle. When I heard he went "in the bush" in Piparo. I was really surprised. But he has nothing to worry about. His legacy is there. Almost enshrined in stone. I would say he with the help of his musician is responsible for the insatiable SOCA beat. GOD Bless. RIP>
thenowchurch
Sounds like you may be related to Art DeCoteau.
KERON DIAZ
Kudos to the King of soca
Strikes 74
One of his many great songs.. this one encouraged me make a ras shorty playlist
Ted Emmanuel Vidal
A very powerful song
Being A Good Human Being Brings Great Things
I come back to listen this every week and sometimes several times a week. Thank God for youtube and the great people who post. Thank you