HE is maybe one of the most reticent Guyanese artistes around, and is more known for his perpetually quiet and reserved demeanour. If you manage to engage him in a twenty-minute conversation, it would be quite an accomplishment for you.

But Wilbur Levans, who goes by the stage name ‘B52’, turns up the heat enough to scare a thermometer when he takes to the stage to perform.
One might want to say he has a split personality, or that he is unpredictable, but what he has maintained over the years is the admirable art of pleasuring and controlling his audience on every appearance.
For sure the ladies adore him, and many have mused that, for such a short and almost petite man, he certainly ‘packs a wallop’ when he makes his musical appearances. His naturally raunchy and captivating presence has also been hallmarks that continue to grow as he develops as a singer.

Knowing the man

B52 was given his name by his manager. It means “Bomber 52”, and his true potential is yet to be realised.
Guyanese by birth, B52, formerly known as ‘Lil Man’, hails from Anna Catherina on the West Coast of Demerara, and was born on November 15. He began a career in music at a very young age, starting as a songwriter during his teenage years, and later grooving into singing, winning the first ever Junior Calypso competition held in Guyana.
His success in the competition motivated him to stay in the music field, and it was during that time that he slowly started to gain his spot in the entertainment industry in Guyana.
He continued in this competition, winning it for three consecutive years, (2002-2004), and setting a trend that has since not been equalled.
B52 won the ‘In Search of a Star’ national contest in 2004, and became a member of the now defunct group Impulse. It was during that time that a competition was launched, the Western Union R&B Flava competition, which was hosted by an artiste of Kross Kolor Records, and the group entered to show what talents its members possessed. They came out quite successful, placing fourth; but all was not lost. B52 was recognised as one of the most promising artistes in the group, and after conversations and agreements, he was later signed to the Kross Kolor Label.
He has grown tremendously over the years; and later, under his manager’s advice, he took a decisive turn to singing Soca.
In 2005, he released his first single, “Wine and Touch Yuh Toes,” on the ‘Wine Til Yuh Drop’ album, which was the first of its kind produced by Kross Kolor Records.
This song became a national hit, and recommended him to the attention of international audiences. He found his true potential in performing, and decided to stay in the Soca arena.
In that same year, he entered the second annual Carib Soca Monarch competition held here in Guyana. He placed eighth, but did not give up. He continued appearing in the competition from 2006 right up to 2009, and placed third and second in 2006 and 2007 respectively, and second and third in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
With his song, ‘Fireman’, which he performed in 2008, he was chosen to represent Guyana at the International Soca Monarch competition in St. Lucia. He came out successful, placing among the top ten, and proving that there is a lot of talent in Guyana.
Unfortunately, he did not place amongst the top three in the 2010 Carib Soca Monarch competition, but that did not stop him from ‘making waves’ in the Guyanese entertainment industry.
To date, B52 is known as one of the most popular artistes signed to the Kross Kolor Label in Guyana, and is featured on all of the albums that have been released by the studio. He also has potential in the calypso and R&B genres, but has chosen Soca as his ‘major’.
He surprised his fans in the 2013 Mashramani season when he teamed up with label mate Vanilla on the song ‘Tear De Roof’, which became a favourite amongst the Guyanese audience in the Carib Soca Monarch competition.
B52 is also a former Guyana Fire Service rank, and is a very talented songwriter who contributed to the lyrics of the song that was produced by the Kross Kolor Family in appreciation of the former President of Guyana.
He already has a few hit singles to his name, which includes the previously released “Put It On Me,” on the fifth edition of the “Wine Til Yuh Drop” album.
He released his first album, ‘Atlantic Nights’, in May of 2013, and it featured ten original songs all written by him. The album was produced by Kross Kolor Records, and features collaborations with other artistes as well.
Wilbur Levans, now called B52, is a great example of a very consistent, hard working individual. He has been proving over the years that he has what it takes to keep the standard of Guyanese entertainment high.
Wilbur Levans is definitely a true Guyanese son, and he has a far way to go in the music industry.