User:Bahamian Culture/K.B. (Kirkland Bodie)
Kirkland Bodie, professionally known by his stage name, K.B., is a Bahamian singer, songwriter, producer,[1] author[2] and environmentalist.[3]
K.B. was honored by the Bahamas government and named as a Bahamian cultural legend, in 2015.[4] The 3-time Cacique award-winning[5] artist is renowned for his social commentary and satire,[6] entertaining performances and contribution to the development of the modern Bahamian sound, which is a fusion of indigenous Rake n' Scrape,[7] Goombay and Junkanoo music.[8] K.B. was noted as the "King" of Rake n' Scrape music in The Nassau Guardian[9]. He is popular in The Bahamas for his unique take on Bahamian culture, in songs like, "She Fat", "Bush Mechanic"[10] and "Civil Servant".[11]
Early Life
[edit]K.B. was born in Nassau, Bahamas to businessman, Ortland H. Bodie, Sr. and Beatrice Outten. The Grand Bahama native moved to Miami, Florida with his parents as a child and finished high school at Hialeah High.[10] K.B. gained a "passion" for music and performing while in Florida.[12] He notes some of his early musical influences as Frankie Avalon, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.[13]
Career
[edit]After high school, K.B. returned home to Eight-Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, where he held a few odd jobs before following a career in music. During the early 1980's, his friend Sid Rolle approached K.B. about creating a band. They joined up with two other friends, Dave Cooper and George Delancy, and formed the "Ego Tripp Band", with K.B. as the lead singer.[12] Ego Tripp was an alternative rock band, blending R&B and Bahamian rhythms. The band produced their first two albums, along with Frank Penn, through his GBI Recording Studio. Ego Tripp was popular for their songs featuring Bahamian music, like, "Turn Her Loose", "Juicy Suzy" and "Ya Windin'".[12][13]
K.B. was inspired by fellow Bahamian entertainers who were also writers and music producers,[7] like Tony McKay,[10] T-Connection, Ronnie Butler, Eddie Minnis & Dr. Offfff.[13] Following in their footsteps, he relocated to Nassau in the late eighties to pursue a solo career. K.B. became the lead performer at the Family Island Lounge and a household name with the release of his breakout hit, "She Fat" and follow-up songs like "All The Meat" and "Start Me Up".[13]
In the early 1990's, K.B. captured the attention of Gary Bernstein, an entertainment talent manager from Boston, who took him on tour in the United States. While in the US he introduced a new audience to Bahamian music.[12] Rounding out the nineties, K.B. returned to The Bahamas, where he continues to perform and produce music highlighting Bahamian culture[13] and the environment.[14]
K.B. has shared the stage with, written and produced songs for many well known Bahamian musical acts, including T'rez Hepburn,[15] Funky D, Sweet Emily, Geno D, Ira Storr[13], Spice, Nita[10] and Ronnie Butler[16].
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]Ego Tripp Band
[edit]- Come Share Some Good Times (1983)
- Tripping... It's Legal (1984)
Solo
[edit]- Just Cause She Fat (1990)
- Island Boy (1991)
- K.B.’s Bahamian Hits (1993)
- Conch Juice (1996)
- Bush Mechanic (2000)
- K.B.’s Bahamian Hits #2 (2000)
- K.B. and Friends #1 - Island Classics (2003)
- K.B. and Friends #2 (2005)
- Bahamian Culture (2005)
- K.B. and Friends #3 (2008)
- K.B.'s Bahamian Hits #3 (2010)
- K.B, Bahamian Hits #4 - Rake-n-Scrape Fool (2011)
- K.B. and Friends Vol. 4 (2013)
Singles
[edit]Ego Tripp Band
[edit]- Party (1982)
- Turn Her Loose (1984)
- Ya Windin' (1985)
Solo
[edit]- Juicy Suzy (1987)
- She Fat (1989)
- Trouble Up In The Robinson Yard (1993)
- Play By Ma’sef (1995)
- Mr. Rhythm & Rhyme (1996)
- Sweet Potatoe Bread (1996)
- Biggest Box (2000)
- Strokeman (2001)
- Da Stage Is Mine (2002)
- Deep Space (2002)
- Bahamian Culture (2002)
- Callin' Crabs (2004)
- Miss Ya Cat Is Dead (2006)
- Belly Yuk Contest (2007)
- I Been Rakin' Scrapin' Longtime (2008)
- I'll Try Anything Once (2008)
- Heaven Knows (2009)
- Hook on Facebook (2011)
- I Gon Jam It So (2011)
- Two Hearts (2011)
- Dey Sellin' (2011)
- Bahamas Win Gold (2012)
- Let's Save The Bays (2013)
- Conchservation (2014)
- Sweet Bimini (2014)
- We Bein' Sitted On (2014)
- I Ain't Fa Vat (2014)
- Hold Dey Feet To Da Fire (2014)
- Captain Kangaroo (2014)
- FOIA (2015)
- We Gat Some Jokey Leaders (2015)
- Das Nasty (2015)
- Anchor Projects (2016)
- We Votin' No (2016)
- Dey Spyin' Spyin' Everyday (2016)
- Mr. Education (2016)
With Da Sting
[edit]- We Are Da Sting (2001)
- Civil Servant (2004)
- Crime Doesn't Pay (2005)
- Toters (2006)
- Boy You Don't Know Me Ey? (2007)
- Tip, Tip, Tip (2008)
- I's A Bahamian (2009)
- Sting In Da Place (2010)
References
[edit]- ^ "A History of The Performing Arts in The Bahamas". bahamas.gov.bs.
- ^ "K.B. Launches Bahamian Lyrical Tales". thebahamasweekly.com. 2011-10-03.
- ^ "KB Album Sales To Help Environment". tribune242.com. 2014-04-07.
- ^ Thompson, Lindsay (2015-07-10). "42 Bahamian Cultural Legends Honoured in Grand Style". thebahamasweekly.com.
- ^ Reed, Frederick (2011-02-02). "KB Wins Third Cacique Award". bahamasb2b.com.
- ^ "K.B. Says Stop Government Spying". thebahamasweekly.com. 2006-07-13.
- ^ a b "Kirkland KB Bodie". bahamas.com.
- ^ Broughton, Simon; Ellingham, Mark (2000). World Music: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific. Rough Guides. p. 320. ISBN 1858286360.
- ^ "King of Rake 'n' Scrape Music Lends Voice To Queen Of Conch". freeport.nassauguardian.net.
- ^ a b c d "K.B". islandfmonline.com.
- ^ "Familiar songs, artists still People's Favorites". thebahamasweekly.com. 2008-01-08.
- ^ a b c d Farmer, Sonia (2012-04-02). "Profile: Kirkland 'K.B.' Bodie". thenassauguardian.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Justilien, Christian. "K.B. Biography". bahamasentertainers.com.
- ^ "Don't Litter Because . . . Das Nasty". tribune242.com. 2016-02-05.
- ^ Cartwright-Carrol, Travis (2012-09-03). "Beloved Entertainer T'rez Hepburn Dies At 48". thenassauguardian.com.
- ^ Moss, Shavaughn (2016-02-26). "The Legendary Ronnie Butler Kicks Off Festival Rum Bahamas". thenassauguardian.com.