On Friday, July 18 – International Night I at Reggae Sumfest Bambino will make his debut on the Sumfest stage sharing MC duties for the night with Elise Kelly and Robbo Ranx.
For the disc jock it’s task he is more than anticipating. “I’m happy to share the stage with Wiz Khalifa, Jason Derulo, Beenie Man, Jah Cure, Chronixx, Nature, Jesse Royal and Shuga,” he said.
The disc jock also took time out to acknowledge some special people who will also be on the Sumfest stage.
“A special big up to my Zip FM co- worker ZJ Sparks and my fellow Digicel Brand Ambassadors , Tifa, Miss Kitty, I-Octane and Tessanne Chin who will also be on Reggae Sumfest"
Described as a creative renaissance man as it seems there is nothing he can’t do - disc jockey, radio personality, artiste, music producer, radio commercial copywriter, MC, host, comedian, actor … well the list could go on and on.
For Bambino it’s a chance to get one on one with the thousands expected to throng the Catherine Hall Entertainment complex.
“I’ve been to Sumfest lots of times, but this time it is special as I will be doing my part to keep the vibes flowing as I carry out my MC duties,” said the man who was born and raised in Kingston.
Bambino migrated to Tampa, Florida and launched his career in the early nineties, cutting his musical teeth on the wheels of steel at college parties and nightclubs…honing his skills more each day. Wanting to broaden his horizons, Bambino shifted to Miami where he gained enormous popularity in the South Florida Caribbean community, playing at clubs and parties for major promoters. Audiences began to experience Bambino’s honest love for music, and his appeal broadened along with his mastery at the turntables.
With this momentum, Bambino did a stint as a producer of a video music show, Da Boomshack, where he featured several artistes - Beenie Man, Elephant Man, and Lady Saw to name a few.
Armed with the experience of music and video production, he formed Spine Records Inc., and produced songs for top reggae and soca artistes, touring internationally with the likes of Alison Hinds and with Kevin Lyttle for his debut album “Turn Me On”.
With an eye on upward mobility he expanded his music enterprise with the Gambino Sound Family - a pool of DJ’s
under his command - played on Florida radio stations and started doing Radio Adverts.
Utilizing songs he had written in his teenaged years he began producing his own music giving birth to his super popular alter ego Trever Off Key a musically animated personality, who has parodied Beyonce’s popular hit, “To the Left”, with a testosterone-packed remix, “To the Right”. He responded to T Pain’s popular dance club hit “Buy you a Drink”, with a
remix duet featuring Macka Diamond “Nah buy yuh a drink”.
Recently the talented Bambino hit all the right notes with his song “Fake Jeans Admit it”, a parody of Russian and Vybz Kartel’s “Straight Jeans and Fitted” was so successful, it gave birth to a Music Video, and a T-Shirt Line.
In June 2009, he made another bold move: he returned to Jamaica and joined ZIP 103FM as a Disc Jockey / Radio personality.
Taking the morning show to new heights
with a combination of DJ skills, a gregarious personality, and his wicked humor, Bambino has become a household name, and is loved not only by Corporate Jamaica, but by listeners of all ages, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Bambino has given new meaning to the expression super charged as he just keep reinventing the wheel with his formation of Bambino Media Box, writing scripts, producing music, commercials and jingles, and has his own sound system equipment for events.
Managed by D’Empire Management he has been chalking up one accolade after another.
He has worked with artistes such as Kes who can forget his handiwork on Tuesdays on The Rock, giving rise to an annual event in Trinidad with the same name; Tessanne Chin, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley to name a few.
The ZIP 103 radio presenter who can be heard from Tuesday – Friday between the hours of 6 to 10 am takes time out to help the youths through Youth of the World Foundation (YOW) which he co-founded with his manager D.Escoffery.
The foundation does Two events Generation Y, an all-inclusive High School Fete that raises funds for the second event, YOW. YOW is an annual charity treat and family fun day that is geared towards providing less fortunate high school students with back to school supplies.
He has also teamed up with other charities such as Jamaica Cancer Society, Sandals Foundation and Ocho Rios Rotary Club in a bid to spread the social love.
Bambino has also played host to several impressive gigs such as Honey Bun School Days Competition, Tracks and Records campaign parties for Tessanne Chin during her bid to be The Voice and Beach J’ouvert for three consecutive years.
Bambino’s talents and accomplishment have not gone unnoticed as he has been nominated and awarded for the Youth View Awards YVAs for Three (3) consecutive years 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2011 he was awarded favorite media personality and favorite selector, 2012 awarded favorite media personality and 2013 favorite selector.
