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There are many young soca artistes who have emerged on the scene over the past few
years but few have had the impact that the dynamic Olayunji Yearwood has.
One might say that he was born with a bit of an advantage over other aspiring artistes in
that his late parents, mother Mairoon Ali and father Eddie Yearwood, were both
renowned nationally for their contributions to the arts (the former as an actress and the
latter as a cultural icon and steel pan activist). At an early age he was therefore
accustomed to seeing his parents in the limelight.
Olatunji has however taken it to another level, culminating in his remarkable victory at
the 2015 Soca Monarch competition with his monster hit ‘Ola’.
Many performers achieve dizzying heights in one year, never to reach those levels
again. Olatunji isn’t one of these. His hit song for 2016, ‘Oh Yah’, has consistently been
near the top of the Paradise Pulse Urban Music Chart and quite a few critics have
remarked that his on stage performances have improved dramatically, even eclipsing
those of more established performers.
Born Olatunji Yearwood on 3rd September, 1965, he’s a former student of Trinity College and a top place finisher in multiple youth calypso competitions.
Known for the distinctive African influence in his music, he retains a remarkable humility despite his fame and the only evidence of his celebrity status is that he’s so busy that it’s difficult to pin him down. Indeed, even on the day of this interview, Olatunji had to squeeze in time to fit us in on his hectic Carnival schedule. Fortunately, with the kind assistance of his new manager Marlon Grant, all went well.
Olatunji graciously invited Paradise Pulse to his home in St. James and shared some insights into his life, his career and his future plans with our Amanda Elliot. Click on the video above to view our exclusive interview with one of soca’s biggest superstars.
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By: Amanda Elliot | FEATURES | January 2016 |
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