This is a list of notable recording artists known for performing various types of

Caribbean music Caribbean music genres are very diverse. They are each synthesis of African, European, Arab, Asian, and Indigenous influences, largely created by descendants of African slaves (see Afro-Caribbean music), along with contributions from other comm ...

Antigua and Barbuda

* Burning Flames * El-A-Kru

The Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the ar ...

Baha Men The Baha Men are a Bahamian junkanoo band formed in New Providence, Bahamas in 1977. They are best known for their Grammy Award-winning hit song "Who Let the Dogs Out". History Early years The Baha Men formed in 1977 as High Voltage, initia ...

Ronnie Butler Ronald Butler Sr., MBE (August 17, 1937 – November 19, 2017) was a famous Bahamian calypso and rake n scrape entertainer and singer. Butler is referred to as "The Godfather of Bahamian Music" and his career spans more than five decades. But ...

Exuma Exuma is a district of The Bahamas, consisting of over 365 islands, also called cays. The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi (60 km) in length and joined to another island, Little Exuma, by a small bridge. The capital ...

* "King" Eric Gibson * Joseph Spence *

T-Connection T-Connection was a funk and disco group from Nassau, the Bahamas, who scored two hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 between 1977 and 1979. They did better on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where they had five Top 10 hits, including "D ...

Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of and has a population of about 287,000 (2019 estimate) ...

Alison Hinds Alison Amanda Hinds (born 1 June 1970) is a British-born Bajan soca artist based in Barbados. She is one of the most popular soca singers in the world. Biography Alison Hinds was born in London on 1 June 1970 and grew up in Plaistow.Batey, A ...

* Arturo Tappin * Dennis Bovell *

Cavite Chorale {{Multiple issues, {{Notability, music, date=January 2019 {{Unreferenced, date=January 2019 The Cavite Chorale is one among the many Caribbean's chorale singing groups. Started in 1973 by Kean H. W. Springer (BA, Dip.Ed, M.Phil) as director, Cav ...

Cover Drive Cover Drive were a four-piece band from Barbados consisting of Amanda Reifer, T-Ray Armstrong, Barry "Bar-Man" Hill and Jamar Harding. They have gained commercial success in the United Kingdom. They are best known for their UK number one single ...

* Draytons Two *

Grynner Grynner (born MacDonald Blenman on 10 February 1946), is a popular calypsonian from Barbados. Like his compatriot Mighty Gabby, his songs often feature political and social commentary. He has been named the Barbados Crop Over Road March "Tune of ...

Krosfyah Krosfyah (pronounced "Crossfire") is a Soca band from the Caribbean island of Barbados. The group is best known for the hits "Road Jam", "Pump Me Up", and "Sak Passe". History Formed in 1989 from the earlier band Higher Level by Edwin Yearwood, ...

* Charles D. Lewis *

Jackie Opel Dalton Sinclair Bishop (27 August 1937 – 9 March 1970), better known as Jackie Opel, was a Barbadian singer who possessed a rich, powerful voice with a high octave range. He was known as the "Jackie Wilson of Barbadian culture" and was als ...

* Lord Radio * Gabby *

Rayvon Bruce Alexander Michael Brewster (born January 18, 1968),Gage, Simon (2002), ''The Independent'', 4 August 2002. better known by his stage name Rayvon, is a Barbadian singer and songwriter, known for his work with Shaggy. Born in Barbados, he was ...

* Red Plastic Bag * Rihanna * Barbados Police Band * Rupee *

Schofield Pilgrim Schofield Pilgrim was a Barbadian jazz group of the late 20th century, most notable for helping to pioneer the calypso jazz Calypso is a style of Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to the mid-19th century ...

Shontelle Shontelle Layne (born 4 October 1985), known mononymously as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album ''Shontelligence'' in 2008. Her second album, '' No Gravity'', was released in 2010. Her singles "T-Shirt ...

The Merrymen The Merrymen, sometimes written as The MerryMen, are a popular calypso band from Barbados. The Merrymen's career spans five decades, from the early-1960s to the 2000s. The Merrymen are still performing as of 2011. At their height they were popu ...

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

Dominica

Exile One Exile One is a cadence musical group founded by Gordon Henderson in the 1970s with musicians invited over from Dominica, to be based in Guadeloupe. The band was influential in the development of Caribbean music. It became famous throughout the ...

* Gramacks * Lazo * Swingin' Stars * The Gaylords *

The Wizzard The Wizzard (born Merlin St. Hilaire) is a popular calypso musician from Dominica. He began performed in church as a young man, then competed in the carnival calypso tent in 1988, placing second. In 1989, he won the competition with "Feed My B ...

Windward Caribbean Kulture The WCK Band (Windward Caribbean Kulture) was formed in 1988 in Dominica.Thompson, Keith (2010) ''Caribbean Islands: The Land and The People'', New Africa Press, , p. 187 The band played a blend of the local Cadence-lypso and traditional Jing ...

(W.C.K.)

Grenada

* Ajamu *

Mighty Sparrow Slinger Francisco ORTT CM OBE (born July 9, 1935), better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a Trinidadian calypso vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the "Calypso King of the World", he is one of the best-known and most successful caly ...

Guadeloupe

Kassav' Kassav' is a French Caribbean band formed in Guadeloupe in 1979. The core members of the band are Jacob Desvarieux, Jocelyne Béroard, Jean-Philippe Marthély, Patrick St. Eloi, Jean-Claude Naimro, Claude Vamur, and Georges Décimus (who left ...

Haiti

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

Montserrat

* Arrow * Justin (Hero) Cassell

Saint Lucia

Nicole David Nicole David is a soca music artist from Saint Lucia. She is referred to as "St. Lucia's Queen of Soca" and was a member of the soca band DN5. She is now the lead vocalist of the band Spectacle. Carnival competition record Nicole won the road ...

Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts and Nevis (), officially the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is an island country and microstate consisting of the two islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, both located in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands chain ...

Joan Armatrading Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, (, born 9 December 1950) is a Kittitian-English singer-songwriter and guitarist. A three-time Grammy Award nominee, Armatrading has also been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist. She received ...

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines () is an island country in the Caribbean. It is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, which lie in the West Indies at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea w ...

* Beckett *

Jamesy P Jamesy P (born James Morgan, 18 May 1970) is a Vincentian musician (and former barber) who released a soca single in 2002 titled "Nookie". Its 2005 release was a hit, reaching No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as becoming the biggest song ...

Kevin Lyttle Lescott Kevin Lyttle Coombs (born 14 September 1976) is a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Vincentian soca music, soca artist, who had a worldwide hit record, hit with "Turn Me On (Kevin Lyttle song), Turn Me On" in 2003, recorded with the danc ...

Mattafix Mattafix were an English electronic duo, consisting of vocalist Marlon Roudette and producer and keyboardist Preetesh Hirji. Their sound was a fusion of hip hop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, blues, jazz, soul and world. Known for their 2005 hit ...

* New Direction * Skarpyon

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...

André Tanker André Michael Tanker (25 September 1941 – 28 February 2003) was a Trinidad and Tobago musician and composer. Background and career Born in Woodbrook, Port of Spain, Tanker was considered one of the most original musicians that his country pr ...

Anslem Douglas Anslem Douglas (born 23 July 1964) is a Trinidadian musician and composer. He is best known for the hit single "Doggie", which was later covered by the Bahamian junkanoo band Baha Men as "Who Let the Dogs Out". Biography Douglas was born and ...

Marlon Asher Marlon Asher is a Trinidadian reggae singer from Enterprise, Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago. His first hit was "Ganja Farmer." He later went on to release more reggae songs, one being "Fit and Strong." Marlon Asher grew up in Enterprise Stree ...

Atilla the Hun Attila (, ; ), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in March 453. He was also the leader of a tribal empire consisting of Huns, Ostrogoths, Alans, and Bulgars, among others, in Central and ...

Babla & Kanchan Laxmichand "Babla" Virji Shah and Kumari Kanchan Dinkarrao Mali-Shah were an Indian husband-wife musical group best known for work in the chutney music and Desi Folk music genres. They performed together for forty years until Kanchan died in 200 ...

Billy Ocean Leslie Sebastian Charles, (born 21 January 1950), better known by his stage name Billy Ocean, is a British recording artist who had a string of R&B international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British R&B singer-son ...

* Beenie Man *

Black Stalin Leroy Calliste (24 September 1941 – 28 December 2022), better known as Black Stalin, was a leading calypsonian from Trinidad and Tobago known for his lyrics against European colonial oppression. He won the Calypso Monarch competition on fiv ...

* "Boogsie" Sharpe/Earl Brooks *

Bunji Garlin Ian Antonio Alvarez (born July 14, 1978), better known by his stage name Bunji Garlin, is a Trinidadian ragga soca artist. He is also affectionately known as the Viking of Soca. His spouse is Fay-Ann Lyons. Early life Bunji was born on July 1 ...

Calypso Rose Calypso Rose or Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis (born April 27, 1940 in Bethel Village, Tobago) is a Trinidadian calypsonian. She started writing songs at the age of 13; over the years, she has composed more than 1000 songs and recorded more th ...

* Chalkdust * Charles D. Lewis *

Crazy Insanity, madness, lunacy, and craziness are behaviors performed by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity can be manifest as violations of societal norms, including a person or persons becoming a danger to themselves or t ...

David Rudder David Michael Rudder OCC (born 6 May 1953) is a Trinidadian calypsonian, known to be one of the most successful calypsonians of all time. He performed as lead singer for the brass band Charlie's Roots. Nine years later, Rudder stepped outside ...

Denise Belfon Denise "Saucy Wow" Belfon (born 23 November 1968, in Trinidad) is a soca and contemporary R&B songwriter and dancer. Early years As a young girl in school, she was a football (soccer) player and was offered a scholarship to Howard University t ...

Denyse Plummer Denyse Plummer, full name Denyse Burnadette Kirline Plummer is a Calypso and Gospel singer from Trinidad and Tobago. She is the first female singer in the Caribbean to be born to a white father and a black mother, with Barbados' Alison Hinds bein ...

Destra Garcia Destra Garcia (born 10 November 1978) is a Trinidadian musician, singer and songwriter of soca music. She is also known by the mononym Destra. She is one of the most popular female soca artists in the world. Biography Childhood and early care ...

Drupatee Ramgoonai Drupatee Ramgoonai (; born 2 March 1958) is an Trinidadian and Tobagonian chutney and chutney soca musician. She was responsible for coining the term "chutney soca" in 1987 with her first album, entitled ''Chutney Soca'', which included both Engli ...

Haddaway Nestor Alexander Haddaway (born 9 January 1965) is a Trinidadian-born German singer best known for his 1993 hit single " What Is Love", which reached number 1 in 13 countries. Early life Nestor Alexander Haddaway was born in Trinidad and Tobago ...

* Heather Headley *

Heeralal Rampartap Heeralal Rampartap is an Indo-Trinidadian entertainer. He has repeatedly produced hits and has won numerous awards both locally and internationally. He is a three-time International Chutney Soca Monarch — in 1997, 2003 and 2005 – and the Natio ...

* Ken Greene * KES the Band * KMC * Lennox Mohammed *

Lionel Belasco Lionel Belasco Maracaibo (Venezuela) 1881 – ) was a prominent Venezuelan pianist, composer and bandleader, best known for his calypso recordings. Biography According to various sources, Belasco was born in Maracaibo (Venezuela), the son of ...

* Lord Beginner *

Lord Invader Lord Invader (Rupert Westmore Grant; 13 December 1914 – 15 October 1961) was a prominent calypsonian with a very distinctive, gravelly voice. He was born in San Fernando, Trinidad. He became active in calypso in the mid-1930s, and was consid ...

* Lord Kitchener *

Lord Melody Lord Melody (1926 – 26 September 1988)Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', backbeat Books, , p.154-155 was a popular Trinidadian calypsonian, best known for singles such as " Boo Boo Man", "Creature From The Black Lagoon", "S ...

* Lord Mouse and the Kalypso Katz *

Maximus Dan MX Prime previously Maximus Dan (born Edghill Thomas, 1979, Carenage, Trinidad and Tobago) is a soca / dancehall musician. He is also known by his former stage name ''Maga Dan''. After working with Jamaican producer Danny Browne between 1997 a ...

Mighty Shadow Winston McGarland Bailey OBE, HBM, DLitt (4 October 1941 – 23 October 2018), better known by his stage name The Mighty Shadow or Shadow, was a calypsonian from Tobago. Career Bailey was born in Belmont, a suburb of Port of Spain in Trinidad ...

* Mighty Spoiler *

Nicki Minaj Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (; born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj ( ), is a Trinidadian-born rapper based in the United States. She is known for her musical versatility, animated Flow (rapping), flow in her rapping, alter e ...

Phase II Pan Groove Phase II Pan Groove is a steel orchestra from Trinidad and Tobago. Band Phase II Pan Groove was formed in August 1972 by a group of seven innovative musicians (Barry Howard, Rawle Mitchell, Andy Phillip, Selwyn Tarradath, Ian Clyde Gibson, Noel ...

Ras Shorty I Ras Shorty I (6 October 1941 – 12 July 2000), born Garfield Blackman and also known as Lord Shorty, was a Trinidadian calypsonian and soca musician, known as the Father of Soca and The Love Man. Biography He was born Garfield Blackman in ...

* Rikki Jai *

Roaring Lion Roaring Lion (22 February 190811 July 1999) was a Trinidadian calypsonian (calypso singer/composer). His 65-year career began in the early 1930s and he is best known for his compositions "Ugly Woman" (1933), " Mary Ann" and "Netty, Netty", whi ...

* Adesh Samaroo * Jit Samaroo *

Hazel Scott Hazel Dorothy Scott (June 11, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was a Trinidad-born American jazz and classical pianist and singer. She was an outspoken critic of racial discrimination and segregation. She used her influence to improve the representat ...

Shurwayne Winchester Shurwayne Winchester is a Tobagonian soca musician from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, who has twice won the Road March title.Moe, Cherisse (2009)Shurwayne turns up the heat at Bois Cano, ''Trinidad & Tobago Guardian'', 18 July 2009, retr ...

* Sugar Aloes *

Sundar Popo Sundar Popo HBM, born Sundarlal Popo Bahora (; 4 November 1943 – 2 May 2000) was a Trinidadian and Tobagonian musician. He is credited as being the father of Chutney music, beginning with his 1969 hit ''Nana and Nani''. Early life Popo w ...

* Superblue (Blueboy) * Xtatik (w/ Machel Montano/Mad Bull Crew) * Rakesh Yankaran

Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands ( es, Islas Vírgenes) are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. They are geologically and biogeographically the easternmost part of the Greater Antilles, the northern islands belonging to the Puerto Rico Trench and St. Cro ...

{{see, List of reggae bands from the Virgin Islands *

Iyaz Keidran Jones (born 15 April 1987), better known by his stage name Iyaz, is a British Virgin Islands singer and songwriter, formerly signed with the record label Beluga Heights Records. He is known for his singles " Replay", "Solo" and " Prett ...

* Midnite