By Toni Nicholas

He was a humble and shy young man when I first him in 2004. One who clinged on to every word whenever the discussion was about music and the art of disc jockeying. Back then, I can recall him telling me that as a DJ he simply wanted to entertain and make people happy. Before 2004, not many persons outside of the communities of Roseau and Marigot, knew of the skills of a young DJ called Webbie D.

However all of this changed, and his whole life at that, through the Heineken Green Synergy series, which he readily admits has taken him places he only dreamt of before. One thing that has not changed and is still intact where Webbie D is concerned, is the humility and willingness to learn and grow.

In 2004 Webbie D entered and won the first ever Heineken Green Synergy DJ competition and went on to repeat the feat through to 2006. The event was held throughout Heineken markets in the region and went into communities to discover unknown DJ’s. These Disc Jockeys were then placed on a national platform, where their skills in music selection, mixing and using the microphone to hype up a crowd, were tested. The first place prize money for the competition which has seen a large following here, has averaged EC$10,000 plus a chance to compete at the regional level.

With three wins under his belt and very good showings at the regional level, Webbie D, retired from the event in 2007, and started to focus on hosting his own development. Through Green Synergy, the young DJ had received two internships on local radio and in 2007 started a regular Saturday shift on Radio 100 Helen FM. This opportunity helped broaden his fan base, opening up his talent to a wider audience through the Internet. Webbie D told the STAR that soon he started getting offers to perform overseas, by persons who were listening to him. Another phase of the metamorphosis of Webbie D had started.

He picks up the story: "Through HTS and playing there every Saturday there were persons listening to me overseas via the internet. One particular person sent me an e-mail and said they wanted me to perform at a show in a club, last December. So all the arrangements were made and I went up for the show. Whilst there I met the manager of a radio station who liked my style and gave me an audition on radio right away. He was impressed and wanted me to start working at the station that same week. I was not sure, because it was so sudden so I e-mailed the program manager of HTS telling him about the offer and whether they would better it. I did not get a response and so I decided to stay in Anguilla where things are really working out."

These days Webbie D can be heard on the popular Kool FM in Anguilla on the afternoon 2-6 drive show. And once again more doors are opening and inviting him through, to expose his talents to diverse and massive crowds. Since being in Anguilla now for four months, he has travelled to neigbouring St Maarten and Nevis to perform, as well as Miami and Puerto Rico. "I am now in close contact with DJ Paulie and DJ Outkast of St Maarten, two guys who have taken part in Green Synergy themselves and we do gigs regularly in these islands," Webbie D says.

Although he was not sure about the move at first, he told the STAR that he has adjusted and is working into his own niche. "People like what’s new and they have been tuning in to what I think is something different," he says. He also says that since his move with the station, there have been other stations in Anguilla following the pattern.

Whilst in St Lucia last week, Webbie D took time to touch base with his Heineken family here whom he says he can’t thank enough for not just bringing him out but for the advice, support and encouragement. According to Dexter Percil, the brand manager of Heineken here, "Last year when a decision was taken to have Webbie D come on board with Green Synergy as a judge and mentor and not compete, it was because we saw his potential as one which had outgrown the competition and we wanted to encourage him to work on other areas like radio. The concept of Green Synergy has always been to bring out hidden talent and give young DJ’s a platform where they can excel and seize the opportunities afforded them through Green Synergy, so today we are really proud of where Webbie D is at."

For Webbie D excelling is certainly on his mind. He told the STAR he wants to keep getting better at his game and is working hard in preparation of becoming the first Caribbean DJ to make it to the DMC world DJ Championships. The competition features DJ’s from the four continents and utilizes elements of DJ mixing battle and scratching, using only two Technics turntables, and an audio mixer. Webbie D says he has a passion for the art and having now made the Caribbean a platform for his skills, he is looking to take it to the Universe. So look out world here he comes.

Caption: After winning the Heineken Green Synergy compeition three times Webbie D's career taken off.