+ Bonny Alves is one of Guyana’s most accomplished and at the same time, under recognised creative icons. He is an arranger, producer, writer and performer of music. During his 50+ years in music, Bonny gave Guyana and the World over 500 songs and 300 music videos. Bonny Alves is also the accredited Director of over 16 movies.
The Agricola East Bank of Demerara resident and former Tutorial High School Student is a Director at SSIGNAL STUDIO/ PRODUCTIONS.
The following is a Gtmemoirs edited version of some of Bonny Alves’s achievements at the date first published. They were first published on the 11th April 2021 via his Facebook page in response to a post from Andrew Tyndall:
1ST Place
- He became involved in calypso in 1985 – 36 years ago – as a Trombonist with the Yoruba Singers, it was there the late Mighty Intruder (32) of “LILAWATI” Fame, choose him to be his arranger, instead of the more established arrangers at the time and he was grateful. Alves went on to win 8 Road March Titles as an arranger for the Mighty Intruder. Bonny won the arrangers title for his Wife – Singing Lurlene at the Champion of Regions Competition.
- Bonny also won the Road March title once with his Wife Charmaine Blackman and the Yoruba Singers as the Writer/Arranger of the song “SOCA MUSIC.”
He managed the Road March campaign for the song “DEM AH WATCH MEH” composed and performed by Mahendra Ramkellawan which made it the 1st and only Chutney Song to be awarded Road March anywhere in the World and it gave Bonny his 10th Road March.
- In the year 2000, Joseph Thomas aka LIL JOE’s controversial Calypso titled “PAGALEE MAN” was eliminated from the competition during audition. Bonny called Lil Joe, rearranged, reproduced, rerecorded the song and released it to the public for the 1st time and due to an effective campaign and pressure from the public, the song was allowed into the competition and won in 2000.
- The years 2002 and 2003 saw Bonny Alves writing, arranging and producing the winning songs for the late Calypsonian Vivian Jordan aka VJ titled VOTE VJ FOR PRESIDENT and POWER SHARING.
- In 2011 he wrote, arranged and produced the winning Junior Calypso song for Diana Chapman titled BRING BACK ANANCY, by reason of her win, she was automatically placed in the Senior Competition as a Junior and brought 2nd which is the highest placing position by a Junior in the Senior Competition.
- Niossi Alsopp’s 2013 winning Junior Calypso song, SCHOOL BLOWS was written and arranged by him.
- In 2015 he wrote, arranged and produced the winning Calypso titled KING PERAI performed by King Perai, that same year he wrote, arranged and produced the winning Calypso for the Champion of Champions Competition titled SHAME ON YOU VENEZUELA performed by King Perai.
- EGO’s 2015 winning Soca song PARTY HARD, was written, arranged and produced by Bonny.
- Diana Chapman won the National Calypso Competition in 2017 with PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER a song written, arranged and produced by Bonny. He also wrote, arranged and produced the winning song for the People’s Choice award performed by Niomi Alsopp in the Junior Calypso Competition entitled JUAN AND THE SPEAKER.
Back in 1985, Bonny had won the Song Contest of the Guianas, a competition between French Guiana (Cayenne), Dutch Guiana (Suriname), and British Guiana (Guyana). Ms. Toni Barry did 2 songs which he composed, arranged and produced titled I FEEL GOOD and LET’S TALK IT OVER. This was huge for him because he represented his country and the Guyana flag flew high and proudly.
2nd Places
In 1999, Bonny arranged and produced ‘THROW IT OVER YOUR SHOULDER,’ the 2nd place Soca Song for Tiny Duggan, written by Ronald Hollingsworth.
- The year 2003 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 2nd placed Jingle at the National Health Competition with a bias on HIV/AIDS with Dawn “Lady D” Edwards.
- 2010 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 2nd placed Calypso in the Junior Calypso Competition with Diana Chapman titled SASKIA.
- 2011 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 2nd placed calypso in the National Health Competition with King Perai entitled DE RIDE.
- 2012 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 2nd place Calypso at the Junior Calypso Competition with Diana Chapman entitled SIGNS.
- 2016 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 2nd placed song in the Junior Calypso Competition with Niossi Alsopp titled LIFE.
- 2017 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 2nd place song in the Junior Calypso Competition with Paul ‘Chrisp’ Clarke entitled THE 2017 BUDGET. He also won Best New Comer that year but did not receive his prize.
- 2018 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 2nd placed Calypso in the National Calypso Competition with King Perai entitled DEH FRIGHTEN GREEN (7).
3rd Place
- 1999 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd place Soca song by Sweet Moniques titled CRICKET.
- 2003 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Jingle for the Ministry of Health Jingle Competition with Devon Denny.
- 2004 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the National Calypso Competition with calypsonian VJ entitled I WILL RESIGN.
- 2008 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Soca at the Carib Soca Monarch Competition and Best New Comer with Onikha Joseph entitled KEEP DEATH OFF THE ROAD.
- 2010 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the National Health Song Competition with Dawn “Lady D” Edwards.
- 2011 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the National Health Song Competition with Diana Chapman.
- 2012 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd place Calypso at the National Health Song Competition with King Perai.
- 2015 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the Junior Calypso Competition with Niossi Alsopp entitled DADDY.
- 2016 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the National Jubilee Song Competition with Faith Corrica entitled “50 YEARS (INDEPENDENT AND FREE).”
- 2017 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the Junior Calypso Competition with Niomi Alsopp entitled GUN CRIME.
- 2018 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the National Calypso Competition with Diana Chapman entitled SOMETHING COMING.
- 2019 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the National Calypso Competition with Diana Chapman entitled THE KILLING OF ANOTHER WOMAN.
- 2019 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 3rd placed Calypso at the Junior Calypso Competition with Jada Harry entitled KARMA.
Bonny Alves wrote, arranged and produced 3 – 3rd places at the National Calypso Competition for Dawn “Lady D” Edwards in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 (17).
4th Places
- 2021 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 4th placed Calypso at the National Calypso Competition with EGO entitled “STOP COVID NOW.”
- 2020 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 4th Placed Calypso at the National Calypso Competition with EGO entitled “WE ARE THE GUARDIANS.”
- 2019 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 4th placed Junior Soca Competition with the song “HOTTA THAN HOT” with Jada Harry.
- 2019 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 4th placed song at the National Calypso Competition with a song entitled ITS ABOUT TIME with Abigail James Nelson.
- 2020 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 4th placed song at the Junior Soca Competition entitled THE GREATEST PARTY but did not receive her prize.
- 2014 saw him writing, arranging and producing the 4th place song at the National Calypso Competition performed by Dawn “Lady D” Edwards (6).
His Achievements
This makes it a total of 25-1st places, 8-2nd places, 17-3rd places and 6-4th places a total of 56 winning formulas because they were all monetary winning positions. THESE ARE WHAT HE COULD REMEMBER, Notwithstanding the many persons whom he would have helped to finish their calypsos with chorus and verse which he never claimed any credit for!
The 1000+ songs produced by Bonny are in the genres of Calypsos, Chutney, Soca, R&B, Latin, Reggae, Gospel, New World, Dancehall among others.
Bonny Alves needs your help. You can show him your appreciation by donating via the following methods:MMG: +592 626 7671CHASE QUICK PAY WITH ZELLE: SSIGNAL2021@GMAIL.COM SSignal Productions Republic Bank Account Number 962352520716
