Biggie Irie

 

SONG: WOMAN
COMPOSER: JOHN LENNON
TRACKING STUDIO: RED DAWG STUDIO & CANEFIELD, Barbados
MIX STUDIO: BIG OCEAN, WEYBRIDGE, UK
TRACKING ENGINEERS: MIKEY HULSMEIER & ANDIS RAIBACIS
PRODUCER: MIKEY HULSMEIER & JIMMY HAYNES
MIXED BY: MATT TAIT @ BIG OCEAN STUDIOS, WEYBRIDGE, SURREY, UK
BASS: NICHOLAS BRANCKER
DRUMS: MIKEY HULSMEIER
GUITAR: JIMMY HAYNES
KEYS: NICHOLAS BRANCKER & JIMMY HAYNES
BACKING VOCALS: FAITH HOYTE
MASTERING: ALAN SILVERMAN: ARF! DIGITAL, NEW YORK, NY, USA

 

Standing on a foundation of award winning hit singles, Biggie Irie, affectionately called the Big Poppa of Groovy Soca and Lovers Rock walks into the new millennium of music as a certified crowd pleaser, and a man of action when performing on stage.

 

 

Born Carlton Geoffrey Owen Cordle in the United Kingdom, Biggie Irie moved to Barbados with his Mother when he was 3 years old.  The move allowed Biggie to be surrounded by the passionate sounds of Soca and Lovers Rock (Reggae) and allowed him to develop his molasses rich voice via Exodus & The Splashband. As one of two Reggae bands in Barbados, the Splashband exposed Biggie to audiences in Sweden (Stockholm Water Festival), London (Nottinghill Carnival), Toronto (Caribana) and New York (Labour Day Parade) due to the bands extensive touring.  

 

As Biggie embraced his passion for Lovers Rock, he recorded the songs Ten Tons Of Love, Crazy For You, Where Is The Love, and No More Crying with producers Kurt Riley, Stephen “Di Genius” Mc Gregor and De Red Boyz. Biggie developed his fan base via his performances in Jamaica for major festivals, and sharing the stage with renowned artists Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond, Garnet Silk and Byron Lee & The Dragonnaires to name a few.  

 

Biggies debut CD, ‘An Introduction to Biggie Irie’ was released in 1999, which was followed by his Sophomore album ‘Where is the Love’ in 2003.  Both albums solidified Biggie’s career, and allowed the artist to tour on the Spirit of Unity Tour which was joined by Third World, Steel Pulse, and Joseph ‘Culture’ Hill.  He also appeared at Reggae on the River, Biggie also performed in an all star Reggae band which appeared on the Jay Leno show. 

 

Additional stages Biggie has performed on include: Reggae on the River, Congaline Music Festival (in Barbados), St Kitts Music Festival, The Ottawa Reggae Festival, The Greek Theater in LA, Stolkholm Water Festival Sweden, and was the Headliner at Stolkholm’s Kulturefestival in 2009.  

 

In 2007, Biggie Irie released the international hit song “Nah Goin’ Home” produced by De Red Boyz of Barbados which earned him extensive global radio play, and won him the title of ‘International Groovy Soca Monarch’ which was the first time the prestigious award was given to an artist not from Trinidad & Tobago. The video for “Nah Goin’ Home” was directed by the award winner Jay Wills, and was in rotation on BET, Tempo, MTV, Centric and several international music video channels.  

 

In 2008 Biggie recorded the groovy soca song “Big Girls” expressing his preference for the Large Ladies. This song was yet another hit in Trinidad which took Biggie back into the finals of the International Soca Monarch Competition. In February 2010 Biggie released the Reggae love ballad “No One To Blame” which was followed by a video and is currently receiving rotation on major TV Networks across the Globe.  

 

For crop over 2010 Biggie Irie has released 6 songs. These are ‘Rub Up’, ‘Leave She Alone’, ‘Nite Til Mornin’, ‘Mr. Officer’, ‘Attack She’. and ‘Thanx & Praise’. These songs are currently receiving heavy rotation on all stations in Barbados, UK, USA and the Caribbean.  

 

For 2011 Biggie released his Crop Over track “Cyaan Be Over” on May 1st and it is a MASSIVE hit not only in Barbados but other territories. This song gained him the 2nd place in the Sweet Soca Competition in Barbados.  

 

To catch Biggie performing in Barbados you can visit hotels such as Sandy Lane, Colony Club, Tamarind Hotel, Royal Pavilion, Peach & Quiet and The Hilton with Guitarist Scott Galt of (De Red Boyz) and also with the Band Gravity singing from Sam Cooke to Bruno Mars to very appreciative audiences. He also continues to perform and host events around the world including venues in Miami, Costa Rica, the UK, Canada and the Caribbean.  

 

What does John Lennon mean to you?

 

John Lennon is a worldwide musical Iconic Legend. I can only think of one other Artist who is similar and that is Bob Marley.

 

Why did you choose Woman?

 

I always wanted to do a remake of "Woman" so when this opportunity came up I jumped at it.

 

 

"Woman" by John Lennon - please click here

 

Biggie's other links:

 

http://www.pyramidartists.com/