Musical destiny

With a name like Elvis White, a career in music was inevitable for the native of the Caribbean island of Montserrat. White, whose mother named him for her favorite singer, and his red-hot soca band will help get the crowd warmed up for Sweat's headlining set on Saturday.

"I always wanted to do this, to be a singer and performer," White said in a phone interview.

White's ambitions were furthered by his mentor, soca legend the Mighty Arrow, best known for his hit "Hot, Hot, Hot."

"I met him when I was about 18 years old," White said. "Arrow took me out of Montserrat on a tour, and it was my first time being off the island.

"He's such a great guy and a great performer. He has inspired me so much. Without Arrow, I wouldn't be doing what I do."

White's band, which bears his name, recently released its debut CD, "Promise." It contains an upbeat mix of pure soca grooves, hip-hop rhymes, dance-hall rhythms and sweet island soul.

"Soca is the soul of all we do," said vocalist Arturo "Toro" George. "It's a nice blend of calypso, reggae and dance hall."

George, a barber by trade, met White while cutting the latter's hair.

"I used to always tell him that I wanted to sing," George recalled. "He would say, 'Yes, whenever you're ready.'

"So I came to the band (rehearsal) room one day and the rest was history. (White's) voice is like dark chocolate and it needed something to soften it a little. The very first time we sang together, we knew that this was the combination."

White, George and the rest of the band bring more than just musical savvy to the stage.

"In the islands, it's all about working hard," said George, who hails from tiny Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. "We've got that island blood in us, so we're always trying to do better."

That work ethic extends to the vibe the group creates in performance.

"It's all about love, happiness and keeping the people dancing," White said. "That's what we're out here to do. Out shows are about dancing from beginning to end."