A veteran musician is calling for greater inclusion of Barbadian artistes and increased airplay for their music.
Alps Corbin, rhythm guitarist with the internationally-acclaimed Troubadours International,
said Barbados had great musicians who deserved the exposure to make an even bigger impact on the international stage.
Though he saw positives in having local music played around Independence time, Alps said it needed to go much further with a greater percentage of airplay being given year-round to the indigenous beat.
Corbin, a member of the Troubadours International for almost five decades, said Barbadians needed to recognise they were blessed with a cadre of musicians of merit.
“We tend to think that the others are better than us but that is far from the case. When it comes to creative arts and the music industry, Bajans are [fantastic],” he told the Saturday Sun.
He said that the passion for playing
spouge music fell off when the
Troubadours left Barbados.
With the Barbados Community College churning out well-trained students from a proficient music programme, Corbin
said: “Back in my day, we had musicians who could not read music but played excellently by ear. They would hear music for the first time and do blends that generate beats like ragga soca, a fusion between reggae and soca.”
Though happy with what he is hearing locally in terms of musical development, Corbin highlighted the need for greater exposure to take Barbadian music to the next level.
Troubadours International
was formed in 1967 and Corbin said they were the backing band for all of
Jackie Opel’s spouge songs.
The band was recently back home to perform at CARIFESTA XV for Jackie Opel Day. (JB)
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