Gifts of Laughter and Music

Season's Greetings from all of us here at CaribbeanTales and Leda Serene.

Looking for a gift to give this Christmas? Trinidadian author and artist Valerie Belgrave's historical romance novel Ti Marie is launched in the US this month, and can also by ordered online @ Amazon as well as www.valeriebelgrave.bravehost.com

“Ti Marie” is a truly great read that everyone will enjoy. Valerie Belgrave brings to light wartime, racism and slavery aspects, in this wonderfully creative and outstanding novel.”
-Ghostwriters Literary Reviews

“A novel of real imaginative power.”
-Trinidad Guardian

"A novel for those looking for something meaningful as well as entertaining to read."
-Daily Express

IN OTHER NEWZ: We have been busy, busy, busy finishing our music series Heart Beat. On Tuesday Christmas Day, the 5th episode will be broadcast on Bravo!

Gifts of Laughter and Music is the story of the relationship between flugelhorn player JoJo Bennett and singer/saxophonist Fergus Hambleton. The two came together in 1980 to form The Sattalites, first as a teaching vehicle which developed into a nationally renowned band. Jo Jo's deep reggae roots melded with Fergus' love of '60's pop vocal harmonies creating a unique flavor. Sattalites fans continue to gather to hear them at the famed Orbit Room on College Street. ARTIST PROFILE Pioneers of the Canadian reggae movement, The Satallites came together in 1980. They have performed at thousands of shows, at universities and clubs both here and in the US and were the first Canadian band to be invited to perform at Jamaica’s "Sunsplash". DIRECTED BY Lana Lovell Visit the Heart Beat website to see the Trailer and get more info. Heart Click HERE to listen to Verlia Stevens interviewing FERGUS HAMBLETON on her weekly radio show "Limin' with Verlia in the African Diaspora." CKLN is a proud sponsor of HEART BEAT. **************************************************** CaribbeanTales and Leda Serene Films are proud to present... HEART BEAT in association with Bravo! and Gayelle The Channel (Trinidad) "We all have a heart, which is a drum, beating the rhythm of life..."Muhtadi, Master Drummer. Heart Beat is a 13 x 1/2hr documentary series that profiles Canadian-Caribbean musicians and explores the hearts, minds and worlds of some of Canada's most dynamic musical creators. Thirteen beautifully crafted point -of-view documentaries profiling artists like: Master drummer Muhtadi, World-beat band Kobo Town, Juno award-winning trumpeter Nick "Brownman" Ali, MOJAH, steel pannist and cultural activist Ian Jones, Cuban singer/songwriter Alex Cuba and Canada's still unbeaten Calypso Queen Macomere Fifi, to name but a few.The series is created and produced by award-winning filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon, and directed with panache and passion by Lana Lovell, Safiya Randera, Paul Nguyen, Andrea Stewart, Justin Lovell, Mars Horodyski, and Alberto Suarez. Grateful thanks to Steve Stober for allowing us to use the photo above of Muhtadi.