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.
sweet music
Lord Shorty Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'sweet music' by these artists:
Ash-I Yo, this is Justice Merchant Alongside Lady 1 Love Woman you…
Cañaman Haaiiilo! Sweet Music! Haaiiilo! Reggae Ragga Reggae! Haaiii…
Cosa Nostra Somebody's singing a song I got the radio on And now I'm…
D'Sound you play me you know me I dig what you show me I never …
Desmond Dekker Sweet music the sound of freedom Sweet music the sound of…
Desmond Dekker and The Aces Sweet music the sound of freedom Sweet music the sound of…
Desmond Dekker feat. The Aces Sweet music The sound of freedom Sweet music The sound of fr…
Doodlebug & D.O.R sweet music you play me you know me I dig what you show…
Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra I can't resist the moan of a cello I can't resist…
Lon And Derrek Van Eaton Heaven knows my heart is there and I work and try…
Murp We Scream You Scream We Fall Down Pocket full of posies Ashe…
Panaché Panache music) nairobi records Walisema na wataishi kusema. …
Paul Specht And His Orchestra I can't resist the moan of a cello I can't resist…
Showaddywaddy Rollin' high and rockin' low, Are you set,…
The Aces & Desmond Dekker Sweet music the sound of freedom Sweet music the sound of…
The Koobas As I walk by your house Where we used to stay I…
The Yardbirds Sweet music Sweet music Why do my heart skips a beat? Pretty…
WANK Sweet Music and Good Love I got the rhythm and you…
Yardbirds (Lance / Cobbs / Bowie) Sweet music, Sweet music. Why do my…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Lord Shorty:
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Ingrid Douglas
Song is over forty years old, seem like the first time I am hearing it, Lord Shorty was a master song writer, arranger and vocalist. This song came out when I was seventeen years old, I am sixty two years old now, and still enjoy the vibes. 😊❤
john fu
this song will keep you young and sweet
Jeffrey
De real real soca man. Remind me of the sweet days of house parties!
Joel Francis
This musical genius created sweet soca music lord Shorty RIP Sir.
Hanni Mic
Simply timeless music
R L Hastick
Still sounds fresh and revolutionary after all these years..still different from what came after and before...shorty and maestro changed things, but maybe it didn't go far enough..
George A Soltysik
My first experience with Soca / Sokha was indeed around the mid 70s when I discovered and immediately bought a LP record by a new group from Trinidad: Kalyan.shortly after I bought a 2nd album by them. I thought they were the creators of the new Soca sound. i heard and loved Indrani when it came out.
Blacquarius72
Kalyan also covered this track.
Sean Ottley
Timeless Classics that stood and will continue to stand the sands of time.
HEALTHY HIGHER MINDS
BLESSINGS TO ALL! SO GOOD TO HEAR THIS JEWEL AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS! THANKS SO MUCH.