Yogi Young B, formally known as Mark Fierro, comes to OLAI MEDIA with a background in reggae, vocal jazz, and acoustic sounds. He has also been a hand drummer for six years, ranging in styles from the Middle East, Cuba, and West Africa. Using his musical talents, especially that of a fine reggae singer, Young B aspires to bring a “One Love” consciousness to the world. And steppin’ out in styles similar to those of Sizzla Kalonji, Marlon Asher, and the younger Bob Marley, he dreams to showcase reggae as a healing medium to the Deaf and ASL communities. Here at OLAI Media, where he is now a lead vocal with the group VOTSEE ( Voice Of The Spanish-English Explosion ), Yogi B says he has found a unique place in the current globalization of reggae music. He currently attends Mt. San Antonio College, majoring in Sign Language and Deaf Studies, which may eventually lead to his B.A. in Linguistics.
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Juggling an artistic career as songwriter, vocalist, and novelist with a business career as CEO of OLAI, and part-time teaching with a demanding family life, GPAD could only be described, perhaps, as one thing: a true renaissance man. His passion for music, running deep in his veins, thanks to his late father, George Percival Adolphus Dover, was encouraged and nurtured at a very young age. His father built the family a radiogram when GPAD was four years old, and at the end of every month, the senior GPAD would buy the latest hits, from r&b to reggae, to calypso. That resulted in the young GPAD's learning all the popular songs in his family collection by heart. On top of that, one of his older brothers used to promote parties, hiring some of the top bands in the country. And GPAD, inspired by those live performances, began to dream of a music career of his own. But the good fortune of winning an academic scholarship to college would somewhat sidetrack him for many years. Though throughout college, he would take advantage of the environment and resources to develop his writing and performing skills as a spoken-word artist.GPAD's is a journey of unrelenting struggle from birth. He was born with only one foot, undeveloped left thumb and left index finger, and as if that wasn't enough, with tied tongue — a speech impediment. Little wonder therefore, why this fluently trilingual ( Spanish/English/Creolese ) artist so passionate and convincingly extols in many of his songs the virtues of tireless struggle, never giving up, mind over matter, and unquestionable belief in one's own self.
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Khin Hwan ( pronounced Kin Waune ) came to the USA from her native Burma, now known as Myanmar, not knowing a single word in English. But in her young heart and soul Khin heard, and clearly understood, the universal language, music, that is. As a child, she enjoyed singing, even though the hardship of life in Burma prevented her parents from motivating or encouraging her toward a career in music. So little Khin kept her dream on the down low. Once in high school in the US, Khin Hwan decided to study theater art, taking every acting class that was offered, and even attending a costly Beverly Hills studio. She kept working on her singing at home with a recording system she bought, and by entertaining guests at family parties. “I said to myself, ‘One day, if it is meant for me to accomplish what I dream of, it will happen." Well, hope and persistence paid off for this Taurus born. Now a vocalist for VOTSEE and singing in Burmese and English, Khin Hwan fuses the delicacy of Asian femininity with the sauciness of American divahood to produce the most pleasant and unforgettable music to the ears.
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SMD has music running in his veins. He is GPAD’s second son, and his paternal grandfather, George Percival Adolphus Dover, was a versatile church choir singer has music running in his veins. He is the second son of VOTSEE member GPAD, and his paternal grandfather, George Percival Adolphus Dover, was a versatile church choir singer. SMD is blessed with a smooth, almost hypnotic voice and a style -- tinged as it is by his father's unique accent -- that is immitative of no one. Yet many fans think he sounds like Lil Wayne. SMD is an "impressive" rapper, says Guyana Prize for Literature-winning author Berkley W. Semple, "and he can well become a brilliant hip-hop star.”
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At 12 years young, EE ( Double E ) is the youngest member of VOTSEE, and certainly one of its most versatile vocalists. The innocence and smoothness of his voice, coupled with his natural ability to play around with notes at the perfect pitch, make him the r&b lead of the group. But this first generation Guyanese-American, who takes much pride in his heritage, drops socca as well with a native Caribbean flow.
Now in the 7th grade, and an honor student to boot, EE aspires to become a business tycoon and hopes his music will get him.
Music from our C'est La Vie Album
►Peace and Justice
►Chitdey
►Drop It
►So Doggone Fine
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