TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT: WAVE OF SOUND ‘BRIDGES BARRIERS FOR LILI FORBES AT CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Island roots with a global perspective
In 1995 Hurricane Luis, a category 4 hurricane, tore through the island of Sint Maarten with 120 to 130-mile-an-hour winds destroying thousands of homes and uprooting countless lives. At 16, musician and educator Lili Forbes left her home and culture of St. Maarten with her siblings to the Caribbean Isle of Curaçao.
Forbes comes from a family of musicians and singers. Her mother took notice of her ability and by November 1995 Lili and her sister Ilinita released a globally successful album.
Forbes background influenced their latest album entitled “Created to Worship” which combines genres like contemporary Gospel with Soca, Dancehall, Celtic, and Alternative music, all intending to bridge religious and cultural barriers through music.
Eventually Forbes returned to the island where she taught music in elementary, middle, and high school.
Most recently, Forbes has joined forces with Javacya Arts Conservatory’s founder Patrice Floyd to produce the 2022-2023 Arts-in-the-Heart Concert Series. The series will take the audience on a musical journey through music and culture.
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