K.I. Nicholas
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K.I. Nicholas

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"Grenadian musician returns from successful performance in BVI"

Raymond "K.I." Nicholas returned this week from three months as showcase performer at the legendary Foxy's on Jost van Dyke island in the British Virgin Islands. KI started his stint with the March 4-5 Annual Musicfest which also headlined, Becket, Udada, Onyan (from Burning Flames), Louis Ible, The Fiddler and many more.

Famed owner and entertainer Foxy Callwood said, "K.I. Nicholas is an extraordinary musician and one of the best blues guitarists we've ever had play here. Grenada should be proud of this fella - he's a real ambassador for Grenada."

Raymond Nicholas was born in Prospects village in St. Patrick parish, started playing guitar at age 11 and had performed in many venues throughout Grenada, St. Vincent, Barbados, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. He spent five years travelling throughout Canada peforming with various bands, playing African, Reggae, Funk, Afro-Jazz, Blues and more. He is also a seasoned studio musician and is trained in guitar, bass, quarto and drums. He has also studied peano for three years with local music teacher Phil Beaman.

"K.I. is a rare breed - talented musician and dedicated artiste - he demonstrated discipline and dedication to his music and was an inspiration to other musicians, said Tessa Callwood, manager of Foxy's Bar. "We didn't want him to leave and he's already invited back next season!"

Nicholas played iwth dozens of musicians during his three months at Foxy's and concluded with performances at Foxy's 31st Wooden Boat Regatta with other musical guests; X-Treme Band, Gary Key, Shango Band and others.
Now that he is back in Grenada, KI is already gearing up with rehearsals with new band members to perform at the Grenada Yacht Club's Summer Regatta. He will soon be playing at various venues throughout Grenada.

Upon his return Nicholas said, "I love getting the opportunity to play in other countries, but I'm always happy to be back in Grenada!" - Spice Isle Review


Discography

Two World Fusion - 2008
Sweet Light’
Love Love Love
Mr. Music
African Rhythm
Island Boy
Crazy Over You
In This Life
Lost Without You
Cool Me Down

Caribbbean Vision -2005
Lonesome Blues
Timon’s Song
My Only One
Dance
Soca Annie
Instrumental (Timon’s Song)

His 2008 CD is available through CD Baby. His music can be downloaded from his myspace site using SnoCap and can be heard on Digstation.

Photos

Bio

K. I. Nicholas brings a unique music style that blends the traditional Caribbean sounds he grew up on in Grenada with the music he found in his travels into the US and Canada. Born Raymond Nicholas in the village of Prospects in the parish of St. Patrick in the West Indian tropical island country of Grenada. He was one of thirteen children that grew up listening to island music and steel drums. He taught himself guitar as a kid and began to build upon the music of his country.

Over the years K.I.’s music has moved through Reggae, Soca, Calypso into a Caribbean fusion with rock and pop. In the mid-1990’s K.I. traveled to Canada where he played with several African and African Jazz Fusion bands. In his twenty years of playing he has soaked up a lot different kinds of music, but it was when he first found the blues clubs in Toronto that he found the music that would chart his musical course. That exposure to blues gave his music a whole new element.

In 2005 after years of traveling, touring, playing backup and lead guitar in bands, and doing solo performances in every size venue from intimate coffee shop to stadiums throughout Grenada, the Caribbean and Canada Nicholas launched his recording career in December of 2005 with the release of his first CD entitled Caribbean Vision. All songs were written and composed by K.I.. He played electric, acoustic, and slide guitar, bass and keyboards, as well as singing lead and background vocals!

After three extended gigs as guest house performer at the famous Foxy’s on the island of Jost van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands in 2005, 2006, and 2007, Nicholas made his move with his wife to the United Sates. He is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Two Worlds Fusion, his second CD with ten original songs was released in early 2008. It is so uniquely his own style with that fusion of Caribbean reggae, soca, blues and rock with just a touch of funk, rap and R&B that there is just no one else out there with this sound! Nicholas is more than a talented guitar player and singer, he’s a multi-faceted musician who plays several instruments, writes and composed his own music. The CD was recorded at Rockolito Studio in Oakland.