OVERSEAS-based Guyanese, Joyce Urmela Harris, 69, called the “Legend of Guyana” — who says she is “in style, wild, pack and back” on the local market — will next month release her new album, ‘Nannie Wine’, with 10 new songs she penned.This new album has already been released in New York, and the international recording artiste told the Guyana Chronicle that this album is dedicated to her late son, Vishal Lopes-Harris, who passed away at age 22 in an accident in 2002. She also sang “The Legend of Guyana” in tribute to Vishal. He had been her rapper in many of her songs, and she thought it fitting to dedicate the album in his memory.

This album contains some of Joyce’s best songs, including Sweet Guyana, the Indian Gal, Sweet is my name, Corona Gal, China Town, Bowgie Gal, and India Baboo, among others. The songs are a combination of soca, chutney and calypso.

This classy and flamboyant musician is Guyana’s own inimitable singer, songwriter and performer. She has been singing since she was 15 years old. She competes in the categories of soca, calypso and chutney.

She migrated to the United States of America (USA) in 1989, but has annually been returning to her homeland, especially for Mashramani.

She is here to showcase her talent, and it is small wonder that she is the four-time winner of several competitions, and is one of the oldest Caribbean singers as well.

Joyce is a mother of three and grand-mother of 11. She came to fame when she belted out one of her special songs, titled “Taxi driver”, some years ago.

Joyce says she has penned and sung more than 50 songs, and has also done voice commercials and advertisements for both local and overseas companies, to promote their products. She says hers is the voice behind the Edward B. Beharry television advertisement promoting Indi Special Madras Curry Powder.

Joyce says she sings religious songs – bhajans — and does so for special events, including weddings and birthdays. She is a gospel singer as well.

Harris is an entertainer on the chutney scene when overseas. She performs regularly, and has performed in many countries abroad.