One band that is always in demand for events
in the Caribbean-Michigan communities is Universal Xpression whose
members have come together from the Caribbean Islands of Nevis, the
Bahamas, Trinidad St. Thomas and Jamaica. Their driving, festive
dance rhythms are key to dances, gatherings, parades, and carnival
celebrations, and the group has been honored with the "Best Live
Music" award for ten consecutive years at the Detroit Carnival
Parade, as well as awards for Detroit's "Best Soca Band" and "Best
Live Carnival Parade," in San Francisco, California.
Richard Parris (keyboards, vocals) was born on the island of Nevis.
Richard inherited his musical inclinations from his father, a
well-known folk musician in the Eastern Caribbean; at the age of
five Richard started playing steel drum music. His brother Noel
(drums) was born on the island of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands
and also started playing at an early age. Noel has played drums with
some of the notables in jazz music, has recorded many albums, and
studied drums at the Manhattan School of Music where he excelled in
African, Latin and Caribbean music. Mark "Reno" Borde (keyboards,
vocals), the son of world famous Trinidadian pan player Hugh Borde,
has also been playing music since he was a child. He has toured with
his father on the Symphony Circuit that included playing with the
late, great Liberace.
Kelly Ann Stargill (vocals) grew up singing in the churches of
Trinidad and has 15 years of experience in Caribbean music. Earl "Melloman"
Clark (keyboards, vocals) is a native Detroiter but was born of
Bahamian and Jamaican parentage. His father was one of the founding
fathers of the Contours and his mother has sung with some of the
greatest in gospel music; Earl began performing on stage at five
years of age. Lastly, Billy Noah (bass) is an American who was
trained by Titus, one of Africa's premier drummers, and has studied
the Wailers, Sly and Robbie and other greats of Jamaica.
UXP is undoubtedly the most popular and hardest working Caribbean
band in the Midwest. The band has won more awards and honors
bestowed on any Caribbean band. They are a ten-time Winner of the
Source News Music and Cultural Awards. “Caribbean Band of the Year”.
Their leader, Richard Parris is the six-time Winners of the "Soca /
Calypso Artist of the Year," while lead vocalist King Mellowman has
also walked away seven - times with the "Reggae Artist of the Year."
