.jpg)
With curves that beckon like an erotic siren, Michelle ‘Big Red’ King has topped the charts as one of Guyana’s curviest songbirds, with a voice and range that can move any mountain.
Today, she is proud to declare that she has joined the bandwagon at the Vizion Sound Recording Studio as one of their new songbirds, adding to the already exciting package that showcases some of Guyana’s best in soca and reggae genres.
Who is Big Red?
Let’s meet the curvy songbird Michelle “Big Red” King, Soca Monarch, Road March Queen, and Accolade Awards winner, who made her debut into the soca arena with her song, “Energizer”. This was followed by “Wine It”, “Bacchanal Fever”, and “Coming Alive”.
Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Michelle is the eldest of six children, and the daughter of local theatre’s talented and ever popular Desiree Edghill. Clearly, Michelle followed closely in her mother’s footsteps, excelling in the performing arts.
Her stage name, ‘Big Red’, is symbolic of her maturity: She considers herself a “big girl”, and ‘Red’ describes the intensity of her performances: Red hot!
This Libra-born singer shot to fame in January 2006 with the release of her tantalizing “Guyanese Wine”, which forms part of her album, “Red Passion”. She quickly became a household name in Guyana, as she demonstrated the moves for this smash hit. Guyanese of all age groups learned how to ‘dip it and whip it and shake it and stick it’, and ‘tic it and tack it and roll it and hold it’, as ‘Big Red’ “bruck him up with the Guyanese wine.”
Versatility
Big Red’s versatility enables her to transcend soca to reggae and soul. She is a classy act who has mastered the ability to harmonize. She possesses a powerful voice that brings her songs to life, and helps her to connect with the audience. She writes her own lyrics, a symbol of her strength, maturity and inner fire.
This star sent a strong message to her competitors that she was also a force to reckon with, both on stage and on the road, when she won the coveted Mashramani Road March in 2008 with the hit song, “On de Road Again”.
In November, 2008, the Queen of Soca rose above nominees and captured the Accolade Award for the ‘Best Female Groovy Soca Single’ at the Accolade Music Awards of Guyana. She was First Runner-up in the 2011 Groovy Soca Monarch.
To date, Michelle “Big Red” King has two albums, has participated in plays, and is also a staunch member of the WAD (Women Across Differences) team.
Experience
She started singing at the age of seven, graduating from the Cherubim Choir to the Youth Choir, and she’s since never stopped singing.
Over the years, Big Red has performed with several bands, including ‘Code Red’, with which she performed on tour in Barbados.
Big Red has wooed international audiences in New York, London, Toronto, Trinidad and Barbados, where she brought down the house with her riveting performances; and she has taken soca in Guyana to new heights.
Big Red is the proud mother of two sons — Steve and Jonathon; and Steve has written several tracks for his mom, including the 2006 hit, “Guyanese Wine”.
For almost a decade, she had maintained the coveted lead vocalist title for the Mischievous Guys band, performing in just about every region in Guyana. She has participated in several Carib Soca competitions, placed 3rd in 2005, and was unanimously crowned Queen in 2006; but was unable to retain the monarchy. However, she still remains a e crowd favourite.
Michelle “Big Red” King launched her first album, “Red Passion, the Guyanese Wine” early in 2009. It is a compilation of nine original songs, written by herself, her son Steve, and Mark Harris. Big Red has released four music videos, and her credits also include “We Flying High”, which she wrote to herald the 40th Anniversary of Guyana’s Independence and preformed at the Guyana Day Celebration in Queens, NY.
She also wrote and performed the theme song for World Aids Day 2005 at the National Cultural Centre, “Keep the Promise”, in collaboration with her son Steve.
She made her acting debut in a TV drama series – “Tides of Life”, and completed her first stage performance, “Mrs Lashley”, the lead role in the Ken Danns written “Man-in-Law”, which was directed and produced by her mother, Desiree Edghill.
She has also acted in an episode of the TV serial, “Sharing the Vision”, which provided education to Guyanese about the impact of implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Big Red has also acted and done vocals for local commercials for Singer and Wireless Connection. Big Red is active in HIV awareness, and encourages her fans to stay focused.
