Onyan Art

After years of playing music together in the U.S and the Caribbean…Antigua’s reigning Calypso Monarch King, “Onyan” and New York City’s award-winning songwriter, singer, guitar player, “Art Ski” have recorded 8 albums together. With their own unique blend of Rock, Soca, Calypso, and Reggae, these two artists have created a fresh sound that has bridged World Music with Pop Music. It was a strange twist of fate how Onyan and Art first met in an Antiguan nightclub in the early 1990’s. Onyan was booked to play with his band “Burning Flames” (Antigua’s ..1 Zouk/Soca band) on the same night that Art and “Wadadli Experience” (Antigua’s ..1 Reggae band) were scheduled to play... T.J. (Club owner): “It was one of them magical Caribbean nights! They both showed up for the same gig and decided to jam instead of taking turns playing or going home. Musically, they clicked instantly and as soon as Onyan started singing and Art started wailing on that guitar...the crowd went wild! I remember the people wouldn't let them stop playing. Them boys jammed until the sun came up and the roosters started to crow!” Born, raised and living in Antigua West Indies, Toriano “Onyan” Edwards has become a household name in the islands. He started playing out professionally in the Endless Vibrations and ended up in Ghetto Vibes which was Short Shirt's personal group. Onyan also toured with the Mighty Arrow as his guitarist/arranger before starting Antigua’s most successful band, Burning Flames. In 1997, Onyan went solo with an album called "Crazy Man" which took the Caribbean by storm. That same year Onyan walked away with the Calypso Monarch Crown, as well as the Soca Monarch and Road March titles. He did the same in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Born and raised in New York, Art Ski has been dividing his time between the U.S. and the Caribbean for twenty years. Playing his own uniquely styled music Art and his band “Work of Art” have successfully toured throughout the world, both headlining and opening up for acts such as Santana, Third World, Jimmy Cliff, The Police, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry. As a solo artist, some of the artists Art has shared the stage with are Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Garcia, Marty Stuart and Joni Mitchell. As a composer, songs he's written for other artists have appeared on Billboard's R&B, Pop, and even Classical charts. He's written and recorded on many national and international albums, TV., and Radio commercials. Along with his band, he's also been featured on screen in the John Sayles movie "Baby it's you." The legendary producer and talent scout John Hammond Sr., (the man who discovered Dylan, Springsteen and Aretha Franklin among many others) was so impressed with Art's music that he signed Art as the first artist on Hammond/CBS Records. Together as “Onyan Art”, they have completed their 2nd album entitled "Reggae Rock." Apart from special guests…Onyan and Art handle all the songwriting, vocals, guitars, drums and keyboards while Onyan’s brother David “Krokuss” Edwards, lays down the Bass. This CD, along with their first CD, “Hurricane is Coming” are available at www.SwordintheStoneRecords.com