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Bolo’s Music Studio Opens at Carnival

April 24, 2007 — Cloudy but obedient skies yielded a kindly breeze that whisked away the mugginess of the previous night as Bolo’s Music Studio opened at V.I. Carnival Tuesday evening with the snip of ribbons and a cavalcade of praises for V.I. musical icon, Sergio "Bolo" Feliciano.
The V.I. Carnival Committee hedged its bets that the torrential rains that had closed roads and public schools would subside for the occasion. They got more than they could have ever asked for.
A veteran trumpter with Seventeen Plus, Imaginations Brass, and too many other bands to recount, Feliciano finds himself suddenly thrust into the limelight. While reluctant to take on the sudden attention, he looks upon this time of his life as an opportunity for music and the youth.
“From time to time I feel like I want to back off of it, but then I get the urge again and I come back out," said Feliciano, who recently lost his sight.
"I really wish that we could do something … to keep the music alive. I mean the culture, the soca music, the quelbe, everything. Sometimes our young musicians, they’re embarrassed to play it and that shouldn’t be so,” he said.
As for musical talent being passed within his family, Bolo said, “I have a little nephew and ironically, he’s also playing trumpet, too! His name is DeAndre Feliciano.”
With Gov. John deJongh Jr. and first lady Cecile deJongh on hand, along with assorted Carnival royalty, the ribbon cutting took place followed by the ceremony.
“Tonight we have a chance to recognize someone who has done a tremendous amount for music in the Virgin Islands," Gov. deJongh said of Feliciano, adding, "Not just in terms of what he did as a musician, but as the inspiration he is for a lot of people.”
Soon, it was time to announce the winners in the Carnival booth competition, with “Top Secret Drag Racing” coming out on top (See complete results at article's end).
Top Secret's Mark Gottlieb explained the concept behind his winning booth: “It’s honoring Bolo’s Music Studio, and the theme is a window, and he’s looking out the back of the studio, and there’s two soldiers looking over the crowd … and then there’s a scroll on the side that’s honoring our soldiers. Just remembering our soldiers abroad and here.”
The Top Secret organization is putting the finishing touches on a drag racing car that is set to race in Puerto Rico. Proceeds from the booth will help to defray costs. “We don’t have a drag strip here, that’s hampering us a whole lot,” he said.
Finishing in second and third place were "Roti Queen" and "Bolo's Music Studio," both designed by Liston Fahie.
Among the many people in the village on Monday night were George Larsen and Malcolm De Castro, members of a carnival troupe called We Come to Lime. The group made a habit of crashing the parade as the spirit hit them. “And we were always escorted out,” said Larsen.
“So we decided that since we come to lime, we’re gonna put a troupe in the parade and come up and have a wonderful time,” he said. The troupe is open to new members, who need only show up on parade day – the only requirement is to be wearing white pants. “We’ll take care of the rest,” said Larsen.
Proudly noting that We Come to Lime has been in the Adults’ Parade for 12 years, Malcolm said, “We’re not into the costumes and all that … But the most important thing is to come up the parade route and have a wonderful, wonderful time at Carnival.”
We Come to Lime also sponsors what Larsen considers the real "official" close to the Carnival season, on Magens Bay in Shed 4 on the Sunday after Last Lap. “That’s the finale, when the The Rising Stars come up the beach, that’s the end of Carnival,” he smiled.
Before that end comes, there’s much more Carnival in store. The Cultural Fair honoring Muriel Lettsome (“Murie’s Native Cookshop”) is on Wednesday beginning at 8 a.m. at Emancipation Garden. Then, beginning at 12:30 a.m. Thursday it’s the pre-J’Ouvert warmup, followed by Roas-A-Time (J’Ouvert).
Thursday night at 8 p.m., the V.I. Calypso Finals will be held at Lionel Roberts Stadium. On Friday and Saturday, all are invited to the Children’s and Adults’ parades (respectively). On Saturday night, the village will be the best place to see the fireworks display, followed by the Calypso Spektakula and the Last Lap.
Carnival Booth Competition
Winner: Booth No. 11, “Top Secret Drag Racing” designed by Grapo and Oyee
1st Runner-up: Booth No. 16, “Roti Queen” designed by Liston Fahie
2nd Runner-up: Booth No. 31, “Bolo’s Music Studio” designed by Liston Fahie
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