Nicole Sonnier

This artist has one focus – music of all kinds. Ragga’s music comes from a mix of rhythm and blues, calypso, soca, and reggae influences. A native of Trinidad, he came to the states in the mid-eighties to fill what he and his mother knew was his destiny. Phyllis Joseph was no stranger to the realities and workings of the music business. As a member of Shorty & the Brass Circle, she was a musician who knew talent when she heard it and was a part of the change that converted the calypso sound into the soca music we know today. And she saw the promise of Ragga’s childhood dreams as a real future for her son. Ragga’s sweet voice, ability to compose and arrange music, and talent with the bass guitar and drums has helped him set his place in the industry. His music caters to women with suggestive, but subtle, innuendo. He sees the chance for mainstream music here to join with Caribbean sounds and would find pleasure in working with artists like Alicia Keys, Usher, and Chris Brown. The artist has come a long way since his Caribbean Amateur Night win at the legendary Apollo Theater. The crowd confirmed that he had the stuff to make it in the industry. This was further confirmed when 2004’s “Right Up in Deh” was the top song at Miami Carnival and his popularity grew among fans leading to his win of 2006 USA Male Soca Artist of the Year with his release of that same year “Miss Lady.” The groovy feel of “I Need You”, a 2010 track, delivered a tale with an apology about a love gone wrong. That same year the love song “Stay as Sweet as You Are” hit the right tune with female and male fans alike. This year has been a great one for Ragga. He performed for fans all over the globe, namely here in Houston for CaribFest’s Banana Bend Beach Party. His releases include the up tempo “Come Over”, “Baila” – about a Dominican cutie and a hot night of dancing, Violate, and his collaboration with Lyrikal – “Attractive”. He was also featured on Juliette Miles “Carnival Again”. He teamed up with Lyrikal once again, adding the voice of Princess, for “Wine for Me.” He is already tuning it up for Trinidad & Tobago’s 2012 Carnival with the “Talaweh” remix featuring Kavita Maharajh that is guaranteed to raise the temperature of any jam throughout the season. Revelers will readily “wine down low and move it slow” as instructed in “Break Away” that was released just this month. “I’m very easy going and approachable,” he says and welcomes fans to greet him at appearances. “They buy the tickets and the music.” He knows his success depends on delivering the goods every time. That is just what he has in store for his fans. Check out Ragga on Facebook www.facebook.com/ian.r.joseph and follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/raggamusic.