Grammacks is one of the first internationally known bands from Dominica since the 1970s. The band was the star of the Cadence-Lypso scene, which was the first style of Dominican music to flow across the Caribbean. Jeff Joseph later formed Volt Face and Grammacks, the New Generation. They headlined the first ever World Creole Music Festival in Dominica. 

Oliver N'Goma, a Gabonese Afro-Zouk and Reggae singer and guitarist, Nicknamed "Noli,” was born in Mayumba in south-west Gabon in 1959. He is best known for his 1990 song Bane.Oliver Ngoma was first exposed to music by his father, a teacher and harmonium player.  N’Goma composed his songs and later shared his music with Manu Lima a well-known record producer for African music. Lima was impressed with the young man's work, and handled the artistic direction of N'Goma's first record Bane. His tracks scored large success in Africa, France and the French West Indies. N’Goma’s album is one of the best-selling African albums to date.

 

Dominica-born Nasio Fontaine is sort of the poster child for underground, grassroots Reggae. Nasio first began singing in church and in school, often winning singing contests at his school. He grew up listening to the up-tempo sounds of Calypso, Soca and Zouk. Without much fanfare, he released this debut album in 1994, only to witness a groundswell of critical acclaim as he drew favorable comparisons to Bob Marley. He is also influenced by Marvin Gaye, the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, and Dominican Cadence music, like Chubby and the Midnight Groovers. He is very focused on what his music is saying, the message he wants to portray. Lovers of reggae music throughout the world know Nasio's name, his voice and his conscious lyrics. He speaks of revolution, of waking up the sleeping consciousness of oppressed and freedom loving people across the Earth. 

Approximately seven years ago, Carlo Vieux, Richard Cavé, and Mickael Guirand each made the decision to leave his native country, Haiti, to continue his studies in the United States. None knew what the future would hold, however, driven by their mutual love for music, these three musketeers reunited in New York when they found that the temptations of the recording studio were too strong to resist. Soon Carlo proposed that they put an album together and Mickael chose the name for the group that fans now know and love, "CARIMI." After months of hard work, these talented young men released their first album, "Hayiti Bang, Bang", in July, 2001. Although some critics said that they were a one hit wonder, CARIMI thinks differently. In just a few short months their album was crowned as The Best Album Of The Year 2001. Hits like, "Player," "Chagrin Criminel," and "I Wanna Be" have been topping the charts all over the world in places such as Haiti, Guadaloupe, Paris, and Guyanne Francaise. They have proven themselves on the competitive stage of Compas and hope to continue to satisfy their fans. With their upcoming tours, they hope that more fans can come out and judge for themselves.

Windward Caribbean Kulture - WCK was formed in 1988 by a group of versatile, dynamic and highly creative young Dominican musicians. This group of young men originally known as the ‘Bouyon Giants’ released a number of albums including "KANNIBAL" which was released in 1992 and in 1995, the band released maybe it’s most successful album, "TOU CHO TOU FLAM", which generated 7 smash hits, out of these being "Balance Batty". "ORIGINAL HOLD DEM", is another huge hit of the WCK band that has taken over Dominica as well as the rest of the Caribbean. The hits just kept on coming and WCK music is a constant demand by partygoers and music lovers all over the globe. 

Sean Paul Dancehall superstar Sean Paul began scoring hit singles in Jamaica starting in 1996 and thereafter steadily began attracting international attention, eventual breaking into the pop mainstream in 2002 with Dutty Rock. Paul released his debut single, "Baby Girl," with producer Jeremy Harding in 1996; it proved a significant success, leading to further Jamaican hits like "Nah Get No Bly (One More Try)," "Deport Them," "Excite Me," "Infiltrate," and "Hackle Mi." In 1999, Sean Paul started to make inroads to American audiences; he was first commissioned to collaborate with fellow dancehall hitmaker Mr. Vegas on a production for rapper DMX; titled "Here Comes the Boom," the song was included in director Hype Williams' film Belly. Also that year, Paul scored a Top Ten hit on the Billboard rap charts with "Hot Gal Today."  

One of Dominica’s leading bands, The Swingin Stars were an early popular band formed in 1959 in the Virgin Lane. They were originally known as the Swinging Teens and changed their name in 1961. Their first major show was at the 1960 calypso competition at carnival and they continued to gain fans across the Caribbean in the early 60s and aslo at present. They recorded in Barbados in 1967, releasing "Sparrow Party" backed by "Tom Cat Mambo".They have continued performing and recording to the present, and have released at least eleven albums. Swinging Stars have continued to back –up the calypsonians adding much more flavour to their already unremarkable lyrics. 

Djakout Mizik is a popular Haitian Compa Band. On New Year’s Eve on MTV in 2007, they performed with Wyclef Jean. This was their first appearance on an American network television. In February 2008, they were crowned the best Carnival band in Haiti for their energetic performance of Kalòt Marasa (two slaps).

Tabou Combo was formed in the Port-Au-Prince suburb of Petion-Ville by the Chancy brothers, Albert on bass and Adolphe on guitar. This young band won the Radio Haiti mini-jazz competition in 1968. In the 70s and 80s they competed with Skah Shah for top band honor. This irresistible live band takes Haitian Compa to the widest of audiences. From their regular appearances in the '80s at the famous Zenith Theatre in Paris, to an audience of 20,000 in New York's Central Park, to the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, in football stadiums and throughout the Caribbean. 

Triple Kay International Band Better Known As the ‘Little Band” started in the small village of Laudat on the exotic island of Dominica.  The band originally started with three young guys by the name of; Kendel, Keenan and Kurt.  They have been promoting Bouyon Music and Dominica in Miami, Europe, New York and other parts of the world. The band continued to work hard through out the years and was named band of the year in 2004 and again in 2005. The band released its mega album "Sewo" doing justice to the Sun Newspaper "band of de year award". Triple Kay continues to work hard to please fans and supporters who have shown them so much love and appreciation over the years.

< >

Machel Montano Caribbean based Soca Singer, Record Producer and Song Writer Machel Montano was born on the 24 November 1974 in Trinidad and Tobago. He is noted for his high energy, fast-paced, and often unpredictable on-stage performances.During his career, which spans over 25 years, he has recorded several songs alongside with many of the Caribbean most popular music artists, which includes Beenie Man, Alison Hinds, Buju Banton and Mr. Vegas. He now stands as one of the most well-known Soca acts in the world and has tried in many ways to bring Soca into the mainstream by promoting it, using his ability to sell-out shows.  

Julie Mourillon born and raised in the Caribbean island of Dominica, acted together with his band Exile One as one of the pioneers of Cadence-Lypso. As a fusion of Dominican and other Caribbean rhythms (combining calypso with Compa and Cadence, for example) this style became the main dance music of Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe and other French Creole Caribbean islands during the 1970s and brought Dominican music to international appreciation. In the early1980s Julie started his solo career and developed his style in different directions such as Soca, Reggae as well as Cadence and Bouyon. He was soon very successful in his career and toured Africa and other parts of the world exposing his talent.

< >

Belles Combo, The first of the three album recorded by the band this hit parade release features the original line-up and follows two mediocre singles in 1973and 1974. Tracks the Liberation de la Femme and Mal Eleve reached the top ten at national radio and receive regional radio airplay. Belles Combo has performed at the WCMF in 2004.  

Kassav was formed in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus, a long-time professional musician who worked with Freddy Marshall. Kassav was the leading band to emerge from the formative years of Zouk. They gave the style a pan-Caribbean sound by taking elements from Kompa, Salsa, and Calypso, and became world famous. Their first album, Love and Ka Dance (1980), established the sound of Zouk. Kassav' continued to grow more popular, both as a group and with several members' solo careers. With Kasav famous hit "Zouk la sé sèl médikaman nou ni" (meaning "Zouk is our only drug" in French Antillean Creole) they become popular in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Midnight Groovers is from the South City, Grand Bay burst on the musical scene in the early 70's led by Chubby and his brother Coe. Despite the fact that Dominicans have fallen in love with the more Effervescent Bouyon the song of Midnight Groovers still resonates with Dominicans at home and abroad. They have thrilled audiences all over with hits such as Pou yon Coco and toute home Se Homme aba Soliel la. Groovers have mounted a relentless crusade through their explosive