Eighty-degree weather and clear skies greeted over 5000 patrons Saturday, July 9^th as CCB International  and Six Flags Great Adventure came together in celebration of Tempo Network’s  6^th Anniversary.

The air of excitement was undeniable in the New Jersey theme park, as the Caribbean massive converged on Northern Star Arena from early in anticipation of seeing some of the Caribbean’s most prolific music artists perform on the main stage.  “It’s all about Six Flags Tempo Turns 6,” said CCB International representative Jerome.  “We’re here, we’re live, it’s on and poppin’.  I think this is going to be our best year.”

Those who didn’t buy their tickets in advance were left to endure heat in long lines at the Six Flag’s entrance.  But once inside they found the wait well worth it as they were treated to one spectacular performance after another.

The princess of soca, 9-yr-old Devyn Tyson got the show started with energetic covers of well-known ballads, as well as her own song “De Islands”.  The young performer was both age-appropriate and engaging, capturing the heart of all in attendance.

She was followed by Brooklyn soca sensation Lyrikal, who decided, to the delight of the crowd, to take his “Ramajay” off the stage to lime with the audience.

However, Patch wasn’t to be outdone.  The charismatic singer rode the wave of energy, taking the stage to treat the massive to his “Pipe”.   With 8 other performers left, Patch set the bar pretty high.

But then came Wilt “Tallpree” Cambridge.  Tallpree, well-known, for his fiery performances, once again proved himself a spirited, talented entertainer.  The Grenadian native’s “Wicked Jab” was welcomed by screams of enjoyment, and the VIP and general admission sections became one.

Then came a moment many had been waiting for.  To thunderous applause, out stepped Iwer “D Boss” George. Drawing from a bag full of hits, “The Big Man InThe Business” ran through tunes both old and new. He even took a moment to join the crowd, delighting his many fans in attendance. And like a scene from the best Caribbean carnivals around the world, the water and powder flew, catching even the media in attendance off guard.

Performance after performance, patrons were treated to energetic displays of vocal talent.  Benjai made everyone “Wine To Di Side”.  Newcomer Aaron Fresh amazed everyone with a show expected from more seasoned entertainers.  Rikki Jai stayed true to his Chutney Soca roots, dazzling the crowd with his wordplay and, at times, moving them to laughter.  Even Shaggy made a surprise appearance.  And then came the show that everyone had been eagerly anticipating.

Riding high off of the release of their 5^th album, Stereotypes, Kes The Band delivered yet another unforgettable performance.  With Kees at the lead, Hans on drums, Riad on bass, and Jon on the lead guitar, Kes showed once more that they can deliver music with international appeal. Kees belted out “Where Yuh From” to the delighted screams from the crowd and when time came for “Wotless”, the lead singer, pleaded, got down on his knees, played to the crowd and, by the end was shirtless and dripping wet.  Panting and wearing a big grin, Kes was undeniably in his element.

Nadia Batson, currently a lead vocalist in Kes, brought the show to a close, proving once again through her engaging performance that she is truly an entertainer of the highest caliber and a “Caribbean Girl”.

Barely a one patron, if any at all, left Northern Star Arena without a satisfied smile.  The day was long, but the line-up was hot; and those involved made it known that soca is here to stay.

“This is the 6^th year we’re doing it, and we’re going to continue doing the good work here,” said Jerome.  “It’s been a 5-year project and it’s coming to pass that it’s paying off for us, and it’s paying off for artistes.  It’s something that we’re trying to do to endorse…soca music and not only from Trinidad and Tobago.  We have Grenada in the house. We have St. Vincent in the house. We have Barbados in the house.  It’s a Caribbean thing.”

If you missed it, no worries.  Next year, same time, same place.  In the meantime, you can keep tabs on all that’s going on in the world of CCB International Inc. online at www.ccbinternational.org.   And according to Jerome, within a month, Tempo may finally be offered by cable providers in the United States.

Keep it locked to Global Linkup for the latest updates.

SEE THE PHOTO GALLERY

About CCB International

CCB International Inc., is a not for profit corporation with full 501c(3) benefits, whose mission is to grant educational scholarships to students of Caribbean and African-American Heritage.

Students in our community have demonstrated academic, extracurricular as well as leadership skills are actively recruited and considered. The spectrum of personnel of Caribbean-American Heritage includes a diverse population mix that includes Hispanic, African, Indian, Asian, and Caucasian origins.

The Primary goals of the organization are:

• To Provide Financial aid to qualified individuals who are in pursuit of higher education
• To “give back” to our communities by providing community services and programs
• To sponsor philanthropic events with the assistance of corporate and individual contributions

We keep the Caribbean culture in focus as we award students of Caribbean and African-American heritage. We make them Conscious of not only their Culture but of the importance of education in our society. And, we raise funds by partnering with corporate sponsors who support our cause by Benevolent giving.

About Tempo

Tempo Networks, LLC is a 24 hr pan-Caribbean television channel broadcasting the music and culture of the Caribbean. Programming includes music videos, news, dramas, and documentaries addressing all aspects of Caribbean life. Musical genres broadcast include Reggae, Soca, Dancehall, Ska, Calypso, and Punta rock. Although programming is largely in English, TEMPO seeks to unite the English, Spanish, French, and Dutch cultures of the Caribbean into one Caribbean nation.

TEMPO was first launched by MTV Networks on November 30, 2005 under the ownership of MTV Networks and corporate parent Viacom. In 2007, Caribbean native Frederic Morton, Jr., Deputy General Council at Viacom bought out the channel, moving corporate headquarters to Newark, NJ in 2008.

It was the first network created to bring together the diverse cultures of the Caribbean. It serves additionally the large Caribbean community living outside of the region in the New York city metro area (NY/NJ/CT), Atlanta, Boston, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, and Houston.

The station reaches over 3,000,000 viewers in the Caribbean via cable. It also streams live online at www.gottempo.com 24/7/365.

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