Fay-Ann Lyons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez
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Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Fay-Ann Lyons |
| Also known as | Silver Surfer, Lyon Empress, Aza Sefu, Viqueen |
| Born | November 5, 1980 |
| Origin | Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
| Genres | Soca |
| Occupation(s) | Performer, recording artist, singer/songwriter, Chairperson of Caribbean Prestige Foundation |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Associated acts | Bunji Garlin, Asylum Band (2008–Present), Invazion (up to 2005) |
Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez (born November 5, 1980) is a talented Trinidadian soca artist and songwriter. She is also known by cool stage names like Lyon Empress and the Silver Surfer. She got the nickname Silver Surfer during her performance at the 2008 International Soca Monarch competition. Fay-Ann is married to fellow soca star, Bunji Garlin.
Contents
Early Life and Music Journey
Fay-Ann was born in Point Fortin, Trinidad. Her parents are both famous musicians: her father is Austin Lyons, also known as Superblue, and her mother is Lynette Steele, known as Lady Gypsy. Her uncle is Winston "Gypsy" Peters, another well-known artist.
Fay-Ann Lyons has made history in the world of soca music. She has won the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival Road March three times (in 2003, 2008, and 2009). The Road March is a huge competition during Carnival where the most popular song played on the road wins.
Making History in Soca
In 2009, Fay-Ann became the first woman to win the International Soca Monarch in the "Power" category. She also won the "Groovy" category and the "People's Choice" award in the same year. This was a massive achievement, as no one else (male or female) had won all three titles on "Fantastic Friday" during the Carnival finals.
Later that year, she also won the Carnival Road March. This made her the first soca artist to win this special "triplet" of titles. What's even more amazing is that she achieved this while she was pregnant!
Fay-Ann is the youngest solo artist to win the Carnival Road March multiple times. She is also the only female artist to have won the Road March three times. She is one of only three women to win the Road March in two years in a row.
Family and Performances
Fay-Ann and her husband, Bunji Garlin, welcomed their daughter on February 28, 2009, just a few weeks after her big Carnival wins.
Fay-Ann has performed at many big music events around the world. These include BET's 106 & Park (2014), Coachella (2015), and Glastonbury Festival (2015). She has also performed in London, Berlin, and at BET X Live (2018).
She holds the record for the most fast-paced soca songs released by a female artist. She has released 28 up-tempo soca songs, beating the previous record.
Music Background
Fay-Ann is now an official member of the Asylum band, which was started by her husband, Bunji Garlin. Before that, she was a main singer for the band Invazion, led by Naya George. She performed with Invazion at many concerts, including the famous 'Brass Festival'. This festival was an annual event during the pre-Carnival season in Trinidad and Tobago, where different soca bands would compete.
As a Songwriter
Fay-Ann writes many of her own songs. She learned a lot from her father, Superblue, who is a legendary songwriter himself. Her father has won the Carnival Road March title nine times and the Trinidad Soca Monarch competition seven times.
Fay-Ann's songs have won many awards from the Copyright Music Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT). These include Female Songwriter of the Year. She has also received honors from the Soca Awards Organization (SAO) for her music.
Fay-Ann was featured in a documentary called Soca Power in Trinidad and Tobago. This film was part of a series about Creole music and also featured other top artists like Machel Montano and Bunji Garlin.
Music Releases
Albums
- 2015: Raze (EP, VP Records)
Singles
- 2004: Ain't See Nothing/Wine Yeah (Bacchanal 45 Records, with Micky Rich)
- 2008: Helpless Child/Lonely Girl (Supersonic Sound, with Bunji Garlin)
- 2011: All Over (Slu Records, with The Baron)
- 2012: Rum Please (Remix) (Energy Music, with Fya Empress)
Filmography
- 2006: International Soca & Groovy Soca Monarch '06
- 2007: Soca Gold 2007
- 2008: Soca Power In Trinidad & Tobago
- 2008: Soca Gold 2008
- Nikki on de Promenade
Awards and Achievements
Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez has won many awards throughout her career for her amazing talent and contributions to soca music.
- NEA: Afrosoca Artist (2017)
- SAO: Soca Collaboration of the Year: Call Me (with Bunji Garlin) (2010)
- SAO: Best Up-tempo Soca – Female: True Lies (2010)
- NACC: Top 20 Award: Tribute To Super Blue (2009)
- SAO: Hall Of Fame Award (2009)
- SAO: Soca Song Writer of the Year: Heavy T, Meet Super Blue, Wine Faster (2009)
- SAO: Overall Female Soca Artist of the Year (2009)
- SAO: Female Soca Performer of the Year (2009)
- SAO: Favorite Groove Soca – Female: Heavy T (2009)
- SAO: Favorite Up-tempo Soca – Female: Meet Super Blue (2009)
- COTT: Soca of the Year: Get On (2008)
- SAO: Female Soca Performer of the Year: Get On (2008)
- SAO: Overall Female Soca Artist of the Year: Get On (2008)
- SAO: Favorite Up-tempo Soca – Female: Get On (2008)
- SAO: Soca Song of the Year: Get On (2008)
- COTT: New Songwriter of the Year: Display (2004)
- COTT: Female Songwriter of the Year: Display (2004)
- COTT: Song of the Year: Display (2004)
- List of abbreviations
- NEA: Nigerian Entertainment Award
- COTT: Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago
- NACC: National Action Cultural Committee (Trinidad and Tobago)
- SAO: Soca Awards Organization www.socaawards.com
Carnival Crowns
- 2003: Carnival Road March
- 2008: Carnival Road March
- 2009: Carnival Road March
- 2009: International Soca Monarch
- 2009: Groovy Soca Monarch
- 2009: International Soca Monarch: People's Choice
- 2010: International Soca Awards: Best Up-Tempo Soca - Female
