Edwin
“The Bajan King” Howell had a love
for music even as a little boy growing up in St. Lucy, Barbados.
That love has helped him become “The King” in Caribbean
music in New York today.
Starting as
a DJ in the clubs, he first got his radio break in the early 1990s
with the late William “Love Doctor” Blake and Prince
Kalunda on WNWK (105.9 FM). In the summers of ‘95, ’96
and ’97, Edwin began mixing for Bob Frederick on WLIB (1190
AM)’s “Spring-Summer Jam”. In 1997 he hosted
his own show on WNWK on Sunday evenings from 9 to 10 PM, where
he started to build a following of listeners representing all
of the Caribbean.
At
the same time, Edwin was also making waves in the music business
at his full time job with VP Record Distributors, where
he continues as a Manager/ A & R Rep., compiling and producing
compilation CDs such as Soca Gold, Reggae Gold, Strictly The Best,
De Soca Zone and Soca 101 just to name a few. Edwin has been greatly
responsible for helping VP Records that was “Miles Ahead
in Reggae Music” become “Miles Ahead in Reggae Music
and Soca Music Too”.
In
1999, Edwin joined WLIB and had listeners tuned in every
Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the latest in Reggae, Soca and
music from all over the Diaspora.
Edwin’s
knowledge of the industry and ear for music propelled him to new
heights as he worked with artists such as Freddie McGregor, Sanchez,
Pam Hall, Sasha and Beres Hammond on the Reggae side and on the
Soca side, The Mighty Sparrow, Arrow, Iwer George, Edwin Yearwood
& Krosfyah, David Rudder and most closely with Rupert Clarke
“Rupee”.
Edwin’s
insight, guidance and promotion has lead Rupee to become a Soca
phenomenon recently signed to a record deal with Atlantic Records.
Edwin
currently is also developing “up and coming” artists
such as Keann, H2O Flo, Statement and more, hoping all the while
to see his dream of a Grammy Award for Soca, one day in the very
near future.
