MR
SHAMMI
With
a smile and style all his own, Shammi Salickram
(aka Mr. Shammi) has a charisma and energy that
can win over even the most critical of audiences.
His
most recent hit, “Soca Bhangra”, a collaborative
effort with Bunji Garlin, brought Shammi to thousands
of new faces, from his sweep of all the major fetes
for Trinidad’s 2003 Carnival, to shows in
Toronto, New York City, New Orleans, Miami and London.
Often labeled a chutney artist, Shammi has proven
his music goes beyond any one label. His latest
release, “Come Again” the first full
album release from the Trini star, illustrates his
ability to bring his unique sound to many genres
of music. Including a follow up collaboration with
Bunji Garlin, “Stick It”, brings an
energy even more intoxicating than “Soca Bhangra”.
Other featured artists are Jamaica’s Screechy
on “It’s Carnival (Can’t Stop
This Party)” and New York artist Terry Felicia
on “Drive Me Crazy”, a song with a New
York freestyle feel to it.
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| While
it seems that Mr. Shammi has exploded on the scene
in the past year, his career started long ago with
his earliest performances at local Trini schools,
performing soca, reggae and soca chutney hits at
the age of 16. In 1997, Shammi paired with his brother
Nigel, for the original “Soca Bhangra”
a remake of the chutney hit “Bo Lo Ta Ra Ra”.
Shammi also had a follow up hit, spoofing Ricky
Martin’s La Vida Loca, giving it a local flare.
“Tomato Choka” could be heard on radios
everywhere and the video brought Shammi’s
good looks to television. Always a favorite with
the ladies, Shammi was named one of Trinidad’s
1999 Top 10 Sexiest Entertainers.
Prior
to Carnival 2003, Shammi joined The Godfathers Asylum,
a collaborative of Trini artists including Bunji
Garlin, Benjai, and Gail Ann. He quickly gained
the respect of the group, with his energetic performance
style. The collaboration of Shammi and Bunji made
a large impact in the soca community with the blend
of races, musical style and performance ability
of these 2 artists. Their video for the “Soca
Bhangra” also helped to give the song a longevity
beyond the hype of the Carnival season.
Those
waiting to see what Shammi will surprise them with
next will not be disappointed by the overwhelming
variety of skills and sounds evident in his 2004
full album release “Come Again”. Shammi
proves himself, once again, with his diversity of
writing, producing and performing skills. Be on
the lookout for Shammi, as his next musical endeavor
has just begun.
Contact Trini Management regarding booking Shammi
or for sponsorship opportunities at trinimgmt@nyc.rr.com. |
