SOCA SENSATION
Vincentian soca sensation, Kevin Lyttle will on Saturday headline the 22nd Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival at Wiggins Park in Camden, New Jersey.
The South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Development Organization (SJCCDO), organizer of the spectacular event, said that the six-hour show — at 1 Riverside Dr. in Camden, at the New Jersey Waterfront, next to Adventure Aquarium — starts at 2:00 p.m.
Caribbean American Kylla Herbert, SJCCDO president – whose late father, Nkem Tshombe, who hailed from Nevis and was president and founder of the festival — told Caribbean Life Monday night that Lyttle, renowned as the “feel good” performer and for his “eclectic tracks,” “makes listeners feel warm, as he brings with him island life, with a touch of soca to the dance floor.”
The Miami-based Lyttle broke through the mold back in traditional releasing of music, breaking into the industry in 2003 with his hit single, “Turn Me On,” which topped charts around the world — the UK, Germany, Italy France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Australia and the United States.
After earning spots on MTV, Billboard’s Hot 100, and even signing a deal with Atlantic Records, Lyttle’s album went multi-platinum, selling over 2,000,000 copies in the beginning.
Lyttle went on to have two more songs, “Drive Me Crazy” and “Home for Carnival,” which hit number one on the charts for two consecutive years.
On Jan. 1, Kevin Lyttle released yet another smash hit. The track “Slow Motion” lives up to its name with its provocative lyrics, and soca, R&B and dance fusion.
Lyttle is still beaming from the success of “Midnight,” a collaboration with Latin artist and songwriter, Nengo Flow, which peaked at no.1 on the Billboard Tropical chart in October 2016.
Herbert said the 2022 South Jersey Caribbean Festival will also feature Afro-Caribbean and Latin cultural performances.
She said, among others, there will be performances from Camden’s own Universal African Dance and Drum ensemble, the Brooklyn-based Tropicalfete Caribbean Cultural Youth group, the Philadelphia Pan Stars, the Bronx-based Bodoma Lisanigu Garifuna cultural youth band, New Jersey-based LA Orchestra 95 Latin Band, Mzs Quanny and Soca Sakita Finess.
“Participants will experience the flavors and vibrant colors of the Caribbean,” said Herbert, adding that there will traditional Caribbean cuisine, including curry shrimp, roti, empanadas and jerk chicken.
“The 22nd Annual South Jersey Caribbean Festival is the premier cultural event that brings Caribbean culture, dance, food and a live concert to the South Jersey and Philadelphia region,” she continued. “This free multi-cultural family festival will have children’s activities, community information, health resources and giveaways.”
The SJCCDO is sponsored in part by the Camden County Parks and Camden County Cultural Commission.
For more information about the South Jersey Caribbean Festival, contact Herbert at (856) 580-0178, sjcaribbean@gmail.com or log on to www.sjcaribbean.org.
