THIS Easter weekend Portmore will be in for a real treat when Trinidad’s Oscar B performs at Sunshine Carnival scheduled to be held at Portmore Pines Plaza on Saturday.

Speaking to Splash from his home in Trinidad, the soca monarch expressed his anticipation.”It’s been a while and I have never performed in Portmore, so I’m looking forward to that. I know that a lot of people in the Portmore area love their soca music, and I will be bringing that energy there along with my friends in the music business,” he said.

Oscar B is no stranger to the Jamaican stage as he was a part of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires for 18 years, having joined it in 1991.

No longer with the Dragonaires, Oscar B is now flying solo and, according to him, is looking to sign with a well-known entertainment company where he will be doing some recordings and, hopefully, some overseas engagements.

On the recording side, Oscar B says he has some dance tracks which he expects to drop by summer.

Oscar Benjamin aka Oscar B hails from Tobago. He was very active in his early years there at Junior High School taking part in athletics, playing football and singing in the school’s choir. He also participated in many school festivals, fairs and tea parties. and was quite active in all major music festivals and talent shows around Trinidad and Tobago. He did very well for himself by imitating the popular calypsonian Brigo. He later went on to join big bands such as Star Flash, Black Sheep, Blue Ventures, before joining the legendary band from Jamaica.

Reflecting on his long stint with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires he says he has learnt a lot and it was a great experience for him.

“I must say I have no regrets whatsoever, I have learnt a lot from being with the band, I have travelled the world, met a lot of influential people in the business, and I know that I have definitely contributed to the development of soca in Jamaica,” he informed, adding that he was the one who started to merge soca with dancehall in reference to his songs such as Soca Tattie, Soca Butterfly and his combination recording with artistes such as Admiral Bailey and Lt Stitchie.

Oscar B described the late Byron Lee as a great teacher, father figure, businessman and advisor. He said he will be missed.

On Sunday the carnival activity, courtesy of DMG Promotions, will move from Portmore to Richmond Estate in St Ann and speaking about his performance there Oscar B said, “Soca lovers don’t want to miss this!

“It will be a soca Trini invasion with divas of the Caribbean, top-class entertainers, nice people, great atmosphere… it will be like two cultures coming together in unity and fun for the Easter and I, for one, am looking forward to it.”

Oscar has recorded a lot of songs over the years but for him there isn’t any like the Soca Butterfly. In explaining his fondness for the single he says, “It’s one of the most creative songs written, the dance the sexiness, the fun of it and it always bring out a vibes in people when they hear it, I think this one will always live on,” he said.

Looking at the growth of soca in Jamaica, Oscar B says he can truthfully say it’s now a part of the mix.

“You can’t play at a good dance and don’t play soca,” he said, adding, “I see the joy on the faces of the people when they hear soca, it has now crossed all borders, and it is a part of the celebration.”

As much as he enjoys performing and working up a sweat on stage, Oscar B says during his off-time he enjoys chilling on his laptop and taking in a good movie, football, going to the beach, cooking and selecting music.

This Easter weekend Oscar B will be coming to do more than perform for the Jamaican people.

“Well, as we all know, it’s the Easter weekend and with that comes a time for celebration, and the two things that come to mind when I’m here in Jamaica for the Easter season is bun and cheese, and party!”