Our final feature in this series of “Bringing the Stars Closer to Earth” is on SEdwin Yearwood. This article will take an interview style format, with most of the responses coming from several different articles.
Who was Edwin Yearwood as a child?
In one word…shy! I always loved signing but many times I would just go and hide behind the drum set and sing. Taken from VP records
How did your career kick-start?
I would say when I was 14 and won the Teen Talent Competition in 1983. Taken from VP records
What was the winning song?
You are Everything To Me by Billy Preston. The audience was almost spell-bound by the performance and that was a pretty surreal experience to be able to move people like that. Taken from VP records
So we know that you achieved a feat that has yet to be matched by anyone: Calypso 
Monarch, Party Monarch and Tune of the Crop Monarch Titles all in 1995 on your very first appearances in the competitions. But it was what happened next that was interesting. Tell us about that.
The year after I won those three titles I was awarded the keys to the city of Boston by the Mayor’s office. Then in 1997, Trinidad awarded me the Best Song Title when I performed “All Aboard” by Surface. It was pretty amazing to win an award like that just by covering someone else’s song. Taken from VP records
On a personal level, what has been one of your greatest achievements?
Definitely winning the World Soca Monarch Title in 1998. This was special for me because it wasn’t just a local or regional competition but I had to compete against the best in the world. Also being the first soca artiste to be signed by VP Records. Taken from VP records
How would you describe yourself as an entertainer?
I would say charismatic. It’s not about cockiness or arrogance but when all you have to say is [sings tune] “Oh gawsh” and gets the crowd going it shows that there’s something about you that captures people and that goes beyond talent. Taken from afromontreal.com
What would you say is your greatest asset as a singer?
I would say the ability I have to communicate music from my soul and being able to use that ability to reach my audience. And I think that is something that was reflected most when I won the Teen Talent when I was 14. It is something that I’ve always tried to harness and tap into since then. Taken from afromontreal.com
January 1st 2o15 was a very special date for you. Tell us about that.
Yes it was. That marked 25 years of Krosfyah and that is a dream come true. Many people hop from band to band. But I looked at Michael Jordan and saw how he stuck with one basketball team for his entire career. So I wanted to stay with Krosfyah and see how far it could go. Taken from Barbados Today
What was your most memorable moment with Krosfyah?
That’s a tough one because there have been so many. But I guess if I had to choose it would be in 1992 when we were rehearsing for a festival. After rehearsals, I remembered I forgot something on the stage. “When I went for it, people were already gathering inside the venue for the show. When I took it up, I heard a loud scream and I couldn’t understand what was going on. I started looking around to see if something had happen. I ran off the stage, just in case something did happen. When I went back out again to collect what I went for they screamed again. Then I started to realize they were screaming for me. So it felt good –– after someone had told me that I would never be successful in music. Those screams were for me.” Taken from Barbados Today
Tell us a bit about how the band has evolved over the years.
That’s something that has been especially satisfying. We began simply by singing at various hotels and singing covers of popular songs especially for the tourists. From there, the band has evolved a great deal where we tour the world and sing our own songs for dignitaries such as Louis Farrakhan and Nelson Mandela. It has been truly amazing to see something grow from so small scale to such an international and global scale. Taken from krosfyah.net and last.fm
What has it been like leading Krosfyah and Managing your own solo career?
For me they go hand in hand so it’s no real challenge. After the triple feat in 1995, Krosfyah was propelled to another level and it made soca music popular among the youth. Then I have been able to release my own solo album The Good and Badd in Me simultaneously with Krosfyah’s the Best of Krosfyah. So to me my solo career and my career with Krosfyah go hand in hand. Taken from krosfyah.net and last.fm
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