Five Examples Of Midnight Groovers (Dominica Cadence-Lypso Band)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about the "Cadence-Lypso" music genre.

Information about Cadence-Lypso's popular band Midnight Groovers is also included in this post along with five YouTube videos of that band. Selected comments from these videos' discussion threads are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Midnight Groovers for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT CADENCE-LYPSO
From https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCHT_OaqKCeFz6wrF68gFTg Dominica CadenceLypso
"Cadencelypso was Originated in the 1970s by the Dominican band Exile One on the island of Guadeloupe, it spread and became popular in the dance clubs of Dominica and the French Antilles .This channel is Made to keep One of the First Genre of Dominica music (CadenceLypso) Alive .It will Presents Cadence music way back from the 70s to this Modern day .For All the CadenceLpyso Fans"
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/exile-one-band-cadence-lypso-music-from.html for more information about Cadence-Lypso and five examples of Exile One music.

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INFORMATION ABOUT MIDNIGHT GROOVER
From http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/features/commentary/tribute-midnight-groovers/
Tribute to Midnight Groovers
Dr. Emanuel Finn - Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 8:17 AM
The Midnite Groovers of South City (Grand Bay) burst on the musical scene in the early 70s led by Chubby and his brother Coe. Although most of the names and faces of the band have changed since its inception, the strong impression of Groovers� signature music has not

The musical themes and beat quickly reminds everyone that the message is not simply about the identity, dignity and militant nature of the Grand Bay community, but about Dominica, and the struggles, trials and triumphs of African people all over the world.

The reality has been that Dominican music bands come and go (with the exception of Swinging Stars) at an alarming rate. The ultimate test of a band is in its staying power, message, lyrics and melody.

The songs of Groovers have always been concentrated, honest and uncontaminated. Today, Groovers is much more than a music band, it is a venerable Dominican institution.

Chubby and the boys are from a different genre of die-hard musicians who do things the old fashion way. Because of their grass roots and rugged style, it can be easy to dismiss and characterize the groovers as a one-dimensional band catering only to country folks.

Despite the fact that Dominicans have fallen in love with the more effervescent �bouyan� music, the thought provoking songs of Groovers still resonates with the island and its people at home and abroad.

The band is a beacon of authenticity that defies questioning or critique, and deserves only admiration. In a time when our youth prefer and appreciate gangster rap artists over local musicians, Groovers can be described as an artifact from a lost time and place...

They have thrilled audiences all over with pure, undiluted and uncontaminated music of the Dominican countryside. This compares similarly to the magnitude of the cultural contributions that Taboo Combo has made to Haiti.

From their onset as a band more than three decades ago, Groovers has mounted a relentless crusade through their explosive cadence songs on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised in Dominica. They have taken the lead in the fight to uphold the dignity of the peasantry (Malaway). Hits such as �Pou Yon Coco� (for one coconut) and �Toute homme se homme aba soliel la� (all men are equal under the sun) speak volumes of their powerful message.�...

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From http://www.largeup.com/2012/07/24/cadence-weapon-download-rare-cadence-lypso-from-the-midnight-groovers-of-dominica/ Rare Cadence-Lypso From the Midnight Groovers of Dominica
- Jesse Serwer, 7/24/2012
"You might recall a couple months ago we told you about Sofrito: International Soundclash, Hugo Mendez and Frankie Francis of London-based �tropical� DJ collective Sofrito�s compilation connecting the dots between African, Caribbean and South America rhythms with rediscovered rarities from Trinidad�s Lord Shorty, Haiti�s Les Difficiles de Petion-Ville, Guadeloupe�s Mas Ka Kl� and more. To celebrate the release of the comp today, Strut Records has given us an exclusive download of one of the most brilliant tracks on the set, �O Ti Yo,� from the kings of cadence-lypso, the Midnight Groovers.

Still going today, the Midnight Groovers are one of Dominica�s longest running bands, with about 40 albums to their credit. In fact, they just completed an eight-date US tour this spring. �O Ti Yo� is the group in its funky, psychedelic mid �70�s prime, with the sort of chunky bass synth groove you hear in a lot of our favorites from this era."...

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order with the video with the oldest publishing date given first.

Example #1: midnight groovers sera



mashupah99, Published on Oct 5, 2013

music from midnight groovers
-snip-
Selected comment from this video's discussion thread:
TheShauny, 2016
"I love this song I remember as a child my parents used to play this eat every family event it always make me miss my dad listening to it r.i.p?"

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Example #2: Midnight Groovers - Anita (CLIP OFFICIEL)



Futurcrew officiel, Published on Apr 22, 2014
-snip-
Selected comments:
2016
Jacqueline Headley
"Old tune but loving dis.. Get's me in the mood for carnival?"

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Jacqueline Headley
"Bwoy old time tunes I grew up with .. Mum and dad would play this and hear this at family parties.. still sounds good."

**?
Solomon The ll
"Damn! Will generation coming make nice music like this though? They the future of Dominican music and so far seem to just be taking yankee/yardie style :(?"

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DjeasyPromoTV
"To get more of midnight groovers official video check out their VEVO channel ,just search for MidnightGrooversVEVO?"

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Example #3: MidnightGroovers - Mandela (Official Video)

MidnightGrooversVEVO, Published on Jul 1, 2015

Music video for Mandela (Official Video) performed by MidnightGroovers.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/midnightgrovers
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Selected comments:
greguy achille, 2016
where this guy from?

**
Reply
Isaiah Graneau, 2017
Grandbay, Dominica?

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Fred Pyrame, 2017
musique top paroles de coeur bon souvenir super?

-snip-
(Google translate from French to English)
Music top lyrics Good memory super
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Example #4: MidnightGroovers - Milk And Honey (Official Video)



MidnightGrooversVEVO , Published on Jul 1, 2015

Music video for Milk And Honey (Official Video) performed by MidnightGroovers.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/midnightgrovers
-snip-
Selected comments:

Frederick Parillon, 2016
"My grandmother used to tell us about those good old days.Those lyrics are priceless, long live groovers.?"

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Daniel Riviere, 2016
"this song always makes me nostalgic.. its such a beautiful song!?"

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Example #5: MidnightGroovers - Talon Haut (Official Video)



MidnightGrooversVEVO Published on Jul 6, 2015

Music video for Talon Haut (Official Video) performed by MidnightGroovers.
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"Talon Haut" = �High heels�
-snip-
Selected comments:
2016
Solomon The ll
"Damn! Will generation coming make nice music like this though? They the future of Dominican music and so far seem to just be taking yankee/yardie style :("

**
Reply
BlueRayBusiness Solutions
"You have a strong point doe but also remember the elderly and the parents today never take the opportunity to teach their children creole plus they don't teach it in schools."

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Reply
Solomon The ll
"+BlueRayBusiness Solutions Shame on them then...They (the parents and government) will be the only reason the their own culture becomes extinct."

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Reply
Justin Robinson, 2017
"its mainly young people in Roseau who cant speak creole"

**
Justin Robinson, 2017
"culture is dying, sad situation."

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Categories: Cadence-Lypso Dominica music and dance

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Exile One (Band)- Cadence-Lypso Music From Dominica, The Caribbean

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about the Caribbean nation of Dominica and provides information about the "Cadence-Lypso" music genre.

Information about and five selections by Cadence-Lypso's premier band "Exile One" are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Exile One for their musical legacy and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT DOMINICA
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominica
"Dominica ..., officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is a sovereign island country.[7] The capital, Roseau, is located on the leeward side of the island. It is part of the Windward islands in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean Sea. The island lies south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its area is 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) and the highest point is Morne Diablotins, at 1,447 metres (4,747 ft) elevation. The population was 72,301 at the 2014 census.

The island was originally inhabited by the Kalinago and later colonised by the Europeans, predominately by the French from the 1690s, who arrived long after Columbus passed the island on Sunday, 3 November 1493; the island's name is derived from the Latin for "Sunday". Great Britain took it over in 1763 after the Seven Years' War and gradually established English as the official language. The island republic gained independence in 1978.

Its name is pronounced with emphasis on the third syllable, related to its French name of Dominique. Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" for its natural environment.[8] It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles, still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity, as evidenced by the world's second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake. The island has lush mountainous rainforests, and is the home of many rare plants, animals, and bird species."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT CADENCE- LYPSO
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadence-lypso
"Cadence-lypso is a fusion of cadence rampa from Haiti and calypso from Trinidad and Tobago. Originated in the 1970s by the Dominican band Exile One on the island of Guadeloupe, it spread and became popular in the dance clubs of Dominica and the French Antilles.[1][2][3]
Gordon Henderson is the leader and founder of Exile One, and the one who coined the term cadence-lypso.[2][4]

[...]

The Cadence era

In the early 1960s, Haitian musicians introduced to the Caribbean, specifically, Dominica and the French Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique) the cadence rampa or m�ringue, a sophisticated form of music that quickly swept the islands and helped unite all the former French colonies of the Caribbean by combining their cultural influences.[6]

In the early 1970s, the Dominican Kadans band Exile One was born, based on the island of Guadeloupe. Its members were top rate Dominican musicians originating from bands such as Woodenstool, Voltage and De Boys and Dem. Trinidadian Calypso and Haitian kadans or m�ringue were the two dominants music styles of Dominica so Exile One, that featured calypso, reggae and mostly kadans or m�ringue, called its music Cadence-lypso however, most of the bands repertoire was kadans.

Due to the popularity of Exile One, There was a virtual explosion of kadans bands from Dominica - Grammacks, Liquid Ice, Midnight Groovers, Black Affairs, Black Machine, Mantra, Belles Combo, Milestone, Wafrikai, Black roots, Black Blood, Naked Feet and Mammouth among others. Leading vocalists of the period include Gordon Henderson, Jeff Joseph, Marcel "Chubby" Marc, Anthony Gussie, Mike Moreau, Tony Valmond, Linford John, Bill Thomas, SinkyRabess and Janet Azouz among others. Dominica kadans bands became popular in Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti and other islands in the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.

The music of Santana and Osibisa also influenced this new form as evidenced in the use of guitars, keyboards, horns and percussion. At that time too, the society was in nationalist ferment. The Black Power and Rastafarian Movements, with their black pride, pro-African and anti-colonial ideological positions, influenced the young musicians tremendously. This was reflected in the music in terms of band names such as Wafrikai, Black Machine, Black Roots, Black Affairs and Black Blood, a definitive identification with blackness, with Africa. This was reflected in the melody, in the use of certain instruments such as keyboards, guitars and horns. This was also reflected in lyrical content, the positive, nationalist and social commentary of cadence-lypso.[1] Cadence-lypso reflected and exuded the nationalist ferment of the seventies.

There were a number of other important aspects of cadence-lypso music which impacted on our culture and society as well as the future direction of Dominica's contemporary music. Cadence-lypso used the Creole language as its prime means of expression, again feeding into our language traditions and our folk song traditions. Oral traditions such as proverbs were every much utilized in the music. Cadence-music was popular among the young and the old and united the generations. For the younger people, this music which was making Dominica famous overseas was also serving as a platform of protest against the ills of society and for conscious-raising. This music was popular among the older folk because of its similarity or relationship to rhythms of jing ping music and the use of the Creole language.

During the 1980s, cadence-lypso popularity declined greatly. ...

Recently, efforts have begun to revitalize cadence-lypso and Creole music generally through the holding of the World Creole Music Festival here in Dominica.�...

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INFORMATION ABOUT EXILE ONE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exile_One
"Exile One is a cadence musical group of the 1970s from Dominica based in Guadeloupe that was influential in the development of Caribbean music.[1]

History
In 1969, Gordon Henderson (the "creole father of soul" and "Godfather of Cadence-lypso") decided that the French Overseas Department of Guadeloupe had everything he needed to begin a career in Creole music. From there, lead singer Gordon Henderson went on to found a kadans fusion band, the Vikings of Guadeloupe � of which Kassav' co-founder Pierre-Eduard Decimus was a member. At some point he felt that he should start his own group and asked a former school friend Fitzroy Williams to recruit a few Dominicans to complete those he had already selected.[3] The group was named Exile One. During the early 1970s, they initiated a fusion of cadence and calypso "Cadence-lypso" that would later influence the creation of soca music.

The full-horn section kadans band Exile One led by Gordon Henderson introduced the newly arrived synthesizers to their music that other young cadence or compas bands from Dominica, Haiti (mini-jazz) and the French Antilles emulated in the 1970s.[5] In the early 1980s, Lead guitarist Julie Mourillon of Exile One formed a new group called Roots of Exile. Together, they launched a new beat dubbed "Island Boogie", a fusion of cadence-lypso and North American funk and soul music and toured Africa and Europe.

Exile One and Grammacks were two influential figures in the promotion of cadence-lypso in the 1970s. They were inspirational for Kassav and the emergence of zouk in the 1980s.[7] Exile One was the first kadans band to sign a production contract with a major label called Barclay Records.[8] The first to export kadans music to the four corners of the globe: Japan, the Indian Ocean, Africa, North America, Europe and The Cape Verde islands.[9]"...

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order with the video with the oldest publishing date given first.

Example #1: Exile One Jamais voir �a



CapitaineWobert Published on Nov 6, 2012

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Example #2: Exile 1_ Tout Jeu se Jeu_ Haitianbeatz.com



Jacobin Noir, Published on Dec 17, 2012

live event

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Example #3: exile one jumbolo



mashupah99, Published on Oct 4, 2013

music from exile one Gordon Henderson


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Example #4: ilyne - Exile One Gordon Henderson (cadence lypso)



Dominica CadenceLypso, Published on Apr 5, 2016

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Example #5: EXILE ONE (GORDON HENDERSON) LIVE AT TERRE DE BLUES PART I



Gordon Henderson Published on Jun 1, 2016

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Categories: Cadence lypso Dominica music and dance Exile One

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