BOOGSIE GOES FOR A HAT TRICK

The union of Len “Boogsie” Sharpe and Anthony “Lexo” Alexis, though by chance, has borne fruit and put the two men on top of the pan world with Woodbrook based Phase II Pan Groove.

Their chance meeting in 2002 led Alexis to put lyrics to a Boogsie composition, and “Do What You Want” was born. This song was sung by Natalie York and the union was complete.

That year Phase II placed second in the National Panorama Finals.

In 2003, Anslem Douglas vocalised another collaboration called “Music In Meh Blood” and it was an instant hit. This time Phase II placed third in the Panorama finals.

The next year the duo followed that up with “We like to Play,” again sung by Anslem Douglas, and in 2004 Phase II placed third in Panorama, this after leading by 12 points from the semi-finals. This song won the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago’s (COTT) Song of the Year.

After that, the union between Boogsie and Lexo was heading into the upper echelon of the pan world.

Colin Lucas had the honour of recording and performing “Trini Gone Wild” in 2005, which saw Lexo and Boogsie, together with Phase II, wining the National Panorama title.

Phase II beat its nearest rival by 20 points, an unprecedented feat in the history of modern Panorama competition.

In 2006, the duo defended their National Panorama title with a song in memory of master arranger Clive Bradley. This time Ronnie McIntosh vocalised “This One’s For U Bradley,” and Phase II was again successful.

This year, both Lexo and Boogsie went in search for a singer for their Panorama song “Sharing Licks,” they came up with veteran entertainer Crazy (Edwin Ayoung). With Phase II on a hat-trick in the National Panorama competition, they are working hard, staying on course to pull it off.

This feat has only been done by Renegades in 1995 “(Laramania),” 1996 “(Pan In A Rage)” and 1997 “(Guitar Pan).” If Phase Two pulls it off, they would create history as the first band to do so with “own compositions.”

History reveals this as the second time Phase II is on a hat-trick in the Panorama competition. Back in 1987 they won with “This Feeling Nice” and in 1988 with “Woman Is Boss,” but lost to Renegades in 1989 for their rendition of Baron’s “Somebody.”

The history book also shows how difficult it is to win a hat-trick at Panorama. North Stars won the first Panorama in 1963 with Sparrow’s “Dan Is The Man,” then repeated in 1964 with Kitchener’s “Mama This Is Mas.” Cavaliers stopped them in 1965 with “Melody Mas.”

In 1971, Harmonites won with “Play Mas” and again in 1972 with “St Thomas Girl.”

In 1976 Witco Desperadoes won with “Pan In Harmony,” then in 1977 with “Crawford,” but lost to Starlift in 1978, which played Sparrow’s “DuDu Yemi” (Natasha).

In the 80s, it was All Stars turn to try for the hat-trick. In 1980 they won with the immortal rendition of “Woman On The Bass,” then in 1981 with “Unknown Band,” but lost to Renegades in 1982, when the winners played Kitchener’s “Pan Explosion.” Later in the 80s it was Renegades turn to go for the hat-trick. In 1984, they won with “Sweet Pan,” in 1985 they tied with Desperadoes, when both bands played Kitchener’s “Pan Night and Day,” and in 1986 Renegades lost to All Stars which played David Rudder’s “Hammer.”

Renegades tried again after wining in 1989 with “Somebody’ and 1990 with “Iron Man,” but was stopped by Desperadoes in 1991 with “Musical Volcano.”