Bunji Garlin | |
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Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons 2014
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Background information | |
Birth name | Ian Anthonio Alvarez |
Born | July 14, 1978 |
Origin | Wallerfield, Arima, Trinidad and Tobago |
Genres | Reggae, Soca, Dancehall |
Occupation(s) | Musician, Producer, Songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels | VP, RCA |
Associated acts | Asylum Band, Major Lazer, Jack Ü |
Website | www |
Ian Anthonio Alvarez (born July 14, 1978), better known by his stage name Bunji Garlin, is a Trinidadian ragga soca artist.
Alvarez was born in Trinidad and is of Saint Lucian and Venezuelan descent. He married fellow soca artist Fay-Ann Lyons on December 23, 2006, daughter of successful soca singer Superblue. He is also a second cousin of singer Patrice Roberts, who performs alongside the popular Machel Montano.
Bunji has won Trinidad's Soca Monarch/International Soca Monarch competition on several occasions: 2002 (tied with Iwer George) with "Down in the Ghetto", 2004 with "Warrior Cry", 2005 with "Blaze the Fire" Both songs were produced by then band member Shawn Noel (Da Ma$tamind) and 2008 with "Fiery" He placed second in the International Soca Monarch 2009 with "Clear De Road", while his pregnant wife Fay-Ann Lyons placed first with "Meet Super Blue". She also won the Groovy Soca Monarch title that same night with "Heavy T Bumpa".
Bunji Garlin's "Brrt" is featured on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack.
In 2013, Garlin won the Soul Train Award for Best International Performance for the song "Differentology", which features Nigel Rojas on guitar. An album of the same name was released by RCA Records and VP Records in August 2014.