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Machel Wins Big at COTT Music Awards 2007
TriniSoca.com Reporters
Event Date: November 01, 2007
Posted: November 08, 2007
 | | Machel Montano
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The Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) hosted its 9th annual Music Awards last Thursday 1st November, 2007, at the Queen's Hall in Port of Spain. Under the theme "Ignite the Music" COTT awarded the top performers across various genres. COTT CEO Allison Demas explained that the winners were selected according to the royalties that were accrued to them over the last year.
Soca star Machel Montano kicked off the gala evening with his usual energetic style as he performed "Higher than High". Accompanied by an angel-winged dancer and Capoiera (African Martial Arts) practitioners, all clad in white, Machel gave an excellent performance. Machel Montano would star again prominently as he copped several awards for his performance over the last year. He captured the premier award of Songwriter of the Year while also sharing the Soca of the Year Award and the Song of the Year Award with Kernal Roberts and Courtney Lewis for their song "Jumbie".
| |  | | | Hosts Bionic Blaze and JW
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The dynamic pair of 'JW' (Jason Williams) and 'Bionic Blaze' hosted the show and they did hilarious impersonations of several Soca artistes as they welcomed guests to the show. Their humorous antics would continue throughout the evening as they also delighted guests with different fashion styles and the mannerisms that go along with the styles.
Soca songstress Patrice Roberts performed a few verses of an unfamiliar song before she delved into her 2007 hit song "Sugar Boy". Accompanied by two singers, this sultry songstress gave an impressive stage performance that underscored her rising reputation as a top Soca singer.
The winner of the Pan Song of the Year was Winston Scarborough, also known as 'De Original De Fosto Himself', who only the previous night launched his 2008 Calypso CD at the Nu Pub. De Fosto's song "Pan Lamentations" edged out "Can't Get Enough" (Alvin Daniel and Don Clarke) and "Sharing Licks" (Anthony 'Lexo' Alexis and Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe).
Patrice Roberts sings her hit song "Sugar Boy"
The winners of the Parang Song of the Year were Jason Seecharan and Richard Ahong who edged out 'Dee Diamond' and Sylvester 'Poser' Lockhart to capture the award for their song "Christmas with You" performed by H2O Phlo.
The Calypso of the Year Award was awarded to 'Skatie' (Carlos James) and Steve Rabathaly for the song "Eat We Cake and Still Have It". Other contenders in this category were "One Song" (Gregory Ballantyne) and "One Foot Cock" (Winsford 'Joker' Devine).
Christopher Morris, the songwriter of the 'Crazy'-sung "Cold Sweat", was the winner of the Groovy Soca of the Year Award. Also in this category were "I Dare You" (Jason Benn and Destra Garcia) and "Sugar Boy" (Patrice Roberts).
Shurwayne Winchester
The fourth performer, Shurwayne Winchester, accompanied by a group of young back-up singers, all clad in white, departed from his usual rhythm laden Soca style as he surprised the audience with a social commentary that explored the crime situation. It was a demonstration of his versatility and talent to be able to switch styles so smoothly.
The Rapso of the Year Award was won by 3Canal who could not be present to collect their award, having not returned from their Womex performance in Spain. In spite of their physical absence, their presence was felt via a pre-recorded clip of their response to the award.
The Chutney Soca of the Year Award was won by Kenneth Seepersad for "Chunkoi" which is performed by Ryan Peter Estrada. Other contenders in the category were "Answer Dis" (Lalchan Babwah) and "We Drinking" (Raymond Ramnarine).
Ziggy Ranking and Delana Mitchell
The powerful voice of local Reggae artiste 'Ziggy Ranking' soon filled the auditorium to the beat of the rhythmic booming bass as he performed his hit song "Miserable Life". In addition, also in the Reggae genre, the Reggae Song of the Year Award was won by Marlon Asher and Carl 'Beaver' Henderson for the song "Love of Jah".
The Pop Rock Song of the Year was won by Kes the Band for their song "Lion" and lead vocalist Kees Dieffenthaller would later return to the stage to treat the audience to a rendition of the song.
Issac Blackman won the Gospel Song of the Year Award. Even though he was not present to receive the award, presenters Nicole Larson and Peter Registe accepted the award on his behalf. Isaac Blackman would, however, arrive at Queen's Hall some moments later.
The New Female Songwriter of the Year Lynette Steele Aberdeen
The New Female Songwriter of the Year was won by Lynette 'Lady Gypsy' Steele-Aberdeen for her song. In her brief speech she thanked COTT for the award saying that it was the first she had received in her 30 years in the Calypso arena. She topped the other contenders in the category, Natasha "Sexy Suzy" Nurse and Rita Jones. St. Lucian Courtney Lewis captured the New Male Songwriter of the Year Award ahead of other contenders Ricardo Rameshwar and Amrit Samaroo. Destra Garcia won the Female Songwriter of the Year title for her several compositions edging out Nadia Batson and Patrice Roberts.
Rising singer 'Rizon' (Shane Gibson) impressed with his rendition of his hit song "Reach" as he captured the attention of the audience with a strong performance. Also performing was Chutney Soca singer Kavita Maharaj and Gospel singer Ayanah Gordon.
Lord Nelson (Robert Nelson) receives the Pioneer of the Year Award
A Calypso Pioneer Award was presented to Calypso Veteran 'Lord Nelson' (Robert Nelson) who got a standing ovation from the audience. Dressed in a dapper pink suit, 'Lord Nelson' thrilled the crowd by showing off a few dance moves to the classic song "Meh Lover". After thanking the audience, 'Lord Nelson' delighted the audience with a performance of "La La Lay La La" in which he demonstrated to the audience his wining skills.
The finale was dynamic and exciting as the female Soca heavyweights Sanell Demster, Nadia Batson and Destra Garcia each sung a verse of their popular songs before delving into a collaborative performance of Billy Ocean's "Caribbean Queen". Billy Ocean himself then made an appearance on the stage to a standing ovation from the audience as he joined the three female songstresses to sing his classic song "Caribbean Queen" in a pore-raising finale.
Destra Garcia, Female Songwiter of the Year
COTT Music Awardees 2007
Pan Song of the Year
The Original De Fosto Himself (Winston Scarborough)
"Pan Lamentation"
Parang Soca of the Year
Richard Ahong/Jason Seecharan
"Christmas With You"
Calypso of the Year
Skatie (Carlos James)/Steve Rabathaly
"Eat We Cake and Still Have It"
Groovy Soca of the Year
Christopher Morris
"Cold Sweat"
Rapso of the Year
Wendell Manwarren/Stanton Kewley/Roger Roberts/ Sheldon "Shel Shock" Benjamin
"Good Morning"
Chutney Soca of the Year
Kenneth Supersad
"Chunkoi"
Rock/Pop Song of the Year
Riad Boochoon/Kees Dieffenthaller/Hans Dieffenthaller/Jon Dieffenthaller
"Lion"
Gospel of the Year
Isaac Blackman
"To The Ceiling"
Reggae/Dancehall of the Year
Marlon Asher (Marlon Sobers)/Carl "Beaver" Henderson
"Love of Jah"
New Female Songwriter of the Year
Lady Gypsy (Lynette Steele-Aberdeen)
New Male Songwriter of the Year
Courtney Louis
Soca of the Year
Machel Montano/Kernel Roberts/Courtney Louis
"Jumbie"
Female Songwriter of the Year
Destra Garcia
Publisher of the Year
Jabberwocky Publishing
Song of the Year
Machel Montano/Kernel Roberts/Courtney Louis
"Jumbie"
Songwriter of the Year
Machel Montano
Pioneer of the Year
Lord Nelson (Robert Nelson)
COTT Music Awards 2007 in pictures:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=80083
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