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| Formed in1989 by Edwin Yearwood, Michael Agard, Felix Forde and Anthony Bailey, the Barbadian band Krosfyah has established itself as one of the premier soca acts in the world today. Crossfire, as they were originally known, developed their distinctive style on the Barbados hotel circuit playing cover tunes for tourists. In 1993 they changed their name to Krosfyah, (the way it's pronounced in the Bajan dialect) and in 1994 recorded their first track Hot Tempo. 1994 also saw the release of their debut album Ultimate Party, which propelled the group from obscurity to the most popular soca band in Barbados and won them the coveted title "Band of the Year." In July 1995 they released their blockbuster CD Ultimate Party - Pump Me Up which became the biggest and fastest selling soca CD in history. With tracks like Ultimate Party, Pump Me Up, Sweatin, and Voice In My Head, the CD became an overwhelming success. This led to lead singer/songwriter Edwin Yearwood becoming an unprecedented triple-crown winner in the Barbados' Annual Crop Over Festival. The hits Obadele and Voice In My Head earned him the titles "Party Monarch", "Road Monarch Champion" and "Calypso King." In 1997, Ultimate Party - Pump Me Up went gold in Canada, a remarkable achievement for a recording on a small independent label. 1996 saw the release of Krosfyah's compilation CD Aim High. The hits Wet Me and Jammin Practice gained even more fans for the already highly successful band. To see their popular video Wet Me, go to the Official Krosfyah Website and click on multimedia. Krosfyah's first release in 1997 Fyah Riddums included the mega-hit Road Block, resulting in another "Party Monarch" title for Edwin Yearwood. Edwin's songwriting genius shines brightest in the hit Highway Robbery, a lyrical masterpiece that shows that soca is more than just "wukup" party music. Krosfyah ended 1997 with their Christmas CD Fyahside Christmas great music that you'll want to listen to all year long. With 1998 came the release of Krosfyah's Hot Zone CD and the addition of hot new co-lead singer Ray Armstrong. They take us on a musical cruise with lots of high energy soca mixed with just the right amount of reggae and blues influences to add spice. In 1999, Krosfyah celebrated their 10th anniversary with the release of Krosfyah.com. The CD features some of Anthony Bailey's best work to date. Ray Armstrong's vocals are top-notch and Edwin is brilliant as usual. With a string of outstanding tracks including One More Time, Raga Beenie, Sexy Body, and Teaser, just to name a few, this is a must have CD. Krosfyah performed some of the 20th century's best music and the next millennium looks equally promising. The year 2000 brought the release of both The Best of Krsofyah and Edwin Yearwood's phenomenal solo CD Influenced - The Good And Badd In Me. Without a doubt, these guys are truly the Kings of Soca. Tour Dates - Click Here |
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Krosfyah, one of Barbados� most innovative soca bands, will take centre stage at Bacchanal Jamaica�s Red & White party Friday, March 28, 2003. Armed with an exuberant sound that adds touches of reggae and R&B to the soca mix, a funky and decidedly urban look accented with baggy pants and bandannas and a magnetic stage presence, the group is constantly redefining the whole genre. Lead by the charismatic, smooth-voiced Edwin Yearwood, Krosfyah (Yearwood, Anthony Bailey, Sherwin King, Elvis Edwards, Khiomal Nurse, Sharon Darlington, Morris Cassell, and Corey Jordan) remains one of the most popular soca bands in the region. Not only do they serve up the essential high-energy, hip-winding sound that's the foundation for soca, but they add lyrical depth and soulful ballads, which is unusual for the genre. Formed in 1989 in the working-class neighborhood of Clapham by lead singer/songwriter Yearwood, drummer Bailey, Michael Agard, and Felix Forde, the group started out playing cover songs on the Barbados hotel circuit. Searching for a chance to play their original music, they were selected to represent Barbados at a showcase in Trinidad and knocked the audience out with their fresh blend of soca and reggae. Emboldened by the response, Yearwood decided to broaden their appeal and change the group's image. He changed the spelling from Crossfire to Krosfyah, to represent the way it's pronounced in the Bajan dialect. Krosfyah's debut release in 1994, Ultimate Party, served notice that the band was going to shake things up. It helped them when they won the Band of the Year title in Barbados and 1995's Ultimate Dance Party-Pump Me Up remains the biggest-selling soca CD. It produced the hit single "Pump Me Up," which became an anthem for Caribbean youth and was certified gold in Canada. 1995 was also the year that Yearwood won a triple-crown victory of "Party Monarch," "Road March Champion," and "Calypso King" at the annual Barbados Cropover Festival. It was a feat that had never been achieved before. In 1996, their release Aim High continued to expand their audience, producing the hit "Wet Me." 1998's Hot Zone garnered major-label support when VP Records released the album, which showcased Yearwood's lyrical and production skills. 2000 garnered the compilation The Best of Krosfyah. The group is back in the region following their �Hot Zone� tour of Toronto, Canada; the Netherlands; USA and Europe. In their words, �Bacchanal Mas Camp will be a �Hot Zone��. |