Caribbean Beat launches Readers’ Choice Awards with new Heather Headley issue

Caribbean Ceat cover photo - May/June 2012 - Heather Headley issue

It’s that time again! Our exciting new issue (#115: May/June 2012) – featuring the incredible Heather Headley – is on Caribbean Airlines and Air Jamaica planes; in the mail to subscribers; and online, where you can also access a complete flip-book of the current issue - free! Here’s a look at all that’s hot and happening in the Caribbean and its diaspora, plus everything you need to submit nominations for the Caribbean Beat Readers’ Choice Awards!

Our Readers’ Choice Awards

Starting 1st May, Caribbean Beat launches the inaugural Readers’ Choice Awards, celebrating the best that Caribbean Airlines’ and Air Jamaica’s destinations have to offer! This is the first of what we hope will become an annual chance for Caribbean Beat readers around the world to vote for their favourites in a number of categories. Read more about the Awards and how to submit nominations and vote for your favourites here.

COVER STORY

Heather Headley: a star with her feet on the ground
The T&T-born Broadway star has Tony and Grammy awards to her name, is preparing for a new album, and to take the stage as Rachel Marron (the role the late Whitney Houston made famous) in the West End premiere of The Bodyguard in London…will an Oscar – or an Olivier – be next? Caroline Taylor asked her.

EXTRA! EXTRA! And for even more of our chat with Heather, visit our sister publication Discover Trinidad & Tobago for the full interview transcript!

FEATURES

Romance for Grown-Ups
Cedriann Martin talks to author Roslyn Carrington about her nom-de-plume Simona Taylor, who writes steamy romance novels

A Green Valley in Grenada
Paul Crask visits the organic agri-tourism attraction Belmont Estate in Grenada

Take it live
Jamaican musician Seretse Small has big plans for Jamaica’s music industry, as he explained to Nazma Muller

Many rivers to cross
In an extract from his new biography of the singer, David Katz tells how the young Jimmy Cliff made his breakthrough

She belonged to the house of music
Musician, painter, teacher, historian…No one word defines Pat Bishop, the leading lady of the arts in Trinidad & Tobago, who died a year ago. Nazma Muller pays tribute to her

A blog called Afrobella
Born in T&T, Patrice Grell Yursik is on Ebony magazine’s Power 100 list because in 2006 she began writing about beauty, she told Kari Cobham

Perfect bad luck
Antiguan Vanessa Hall is fast becoming one of the most sought-after wedding photographers in the Caribbean. She shares some of her spectacular photos with Bridget van Dongen

Putting their best foot forward
Ian Stalker stumbles upon a pair of Jamaican dancers with a difference

ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: Founding editor & publisher Jeremy Taylor on 20 years of Beat
In this online-only exclusive, Caroline Taylor spoke to founding editor and publisher Caribbean Beat about the magazine and publishing in the Caribbean

DEPARTMENTS

Happenings
A round-up of current and coming events on the Caribbean calendar

CARIBBEAN COOKUP: Blazing hot barbeque
This summer, Franka Philip will have something tasty sizzling on the grill

OWN WORDS: “Our Diversity is our Strength”
For researcher Dr Kumar Mahabir, Trinidad & Tobago’s culture is fertile ground. He talked to Debbie Jacob about his work

LIFE & TIMES: Weddings with a Trinidadian twist
Simone Sant-Ghuran runs a T&T-based wedding website. She talked to Zahra Gordon

RIDDEM & RHYME: The magnificent Peter Tosh
Garry Steckles enjoys an unpublished book about one of the original Wailers, and recalls one of his own encounters with the reggae star

ON THIS DAY: When Cuba flew the Union Jack
As British visitors flock to Havana, James Ferguson recalls an earlier invasion – by the Royal Navy