Anslem Douglas

Anslem Douglas (born July 23, 1964) is a musician and composer from Trinidad and Tobago, most famous for the hit single "Doggie" later covered by the Baha Men as "Who Let the Dogs Out?"

Biography

Anslem Douglas was born and raised in the village of La Romaine in the southern part of Trinidad. The singer/songwriter is a highly respected member of the local music fraternity. He was exposed to music from a very tender age and credits his exposure to folk performances at the community centre as the root of his musical journey. This, coupled with the influences of his older sister, who shared her talent as a young ambitious poet, served as the inspiration and foundation for the development of his natural musical talent.

It was while singing at his local Pentecostal Church church that Anslem’s vocal talent really started to flourish. This experience was the preparation and start that he needed to take his first step into the wider world of music as an artist within his own right. At the age of 16, he and a few friends in the church formed an all male band called Exodus which quickly became very popular and gave Anslem his first real taste of spotlight and stardom.

In 1984 he enlisted in the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard where he served for a period of six years. During this time he continued to hone his vocal talent while performing at various venues with the Coast Guard band. Considering the diverse list of his musical influences, which includes Soca greats like Blakie and Lord Kitchener and international R&B superstars like Peabo Bryson and James Ingram, it is no surprise that while with this band he performed various genres of music.

His calling to a bigger stage and brighter lights led him to Trinidad and Tobago’s indigenous genre, Soca. Needless to say, it did not take Anslem very long to establish himself and be recognized as a true artist of exceptional talent. He performed with some of the biggest bands out of Trinidad like Fire Flight (with whom he recorded his first song in 1988) and Atlantik where he got the opportunity to expose and share his unique, husky yet sultry sound with a wider audience. During this time he delivered some mega hits like Ragga Poom Poom, Good Music To Dance, and his internationally acclaimed hit Who Let The Dogs Out? which went on to win a Grammy and is arguably one of the most popular songs ever written and recorded in the history of the industry, although the most popular version of the song outside of the Caribbean is probably the cover version of the song sung by the Baha Men. Anslem has taken us through the entire gamut of human experiences from Friend on the Soul Island album and Ooh Ahh, the smooth jazz hit produced by Eddie Bullen and written by Anslem on the same record, to the social outrage of Abuse featured on his Sir Anslem Douglas album released in 2000.

In 2001 he was sued and lost a lawsuit with regards to full authorship of the song Who Let the Dogs Out? The chorus was originally composed in 1995 by Patrick Stephenson and Leroy Williams of Just Platinum Recording Studios/Action House Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for a radio jingle. The lawsuit showed that Douglas was a client of the studio during that time, and that he used the chorus to compose the song. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed sum.

Over the years he has performed to audiences literally in countries from “A to Z” and has travelled from Antigua to Zimbabwe, Jamaica to Israel. Now with the aim of keeping his music relevant and the desire to challenge himself, he has recorded a ten track Neo Soul/Pop album entitled Project A.D. with most of the songs written by himself and produced by Eddie Bullen and his son Quincy Bullen. This album was released in the spring of 2012 and is on heavy rotation in the US.

Anslem’s contributions for 2013 includes the single, Do You Think He Will Understand, a power Soca called Bacchanal, a neo-Calypso single, Dancing With You, and a collaboration that is soon to be released.

Music has always been at the core of the life of this Trinidad-born Canadian and the accolades that he has received prove that Anslem has made an indelible mark on life’s musical canvas. The intensity and passion that this artist has for his craft continues to flourish as he showcases his God given talent to audiences worldwide.

Discography

• Soul Island (January 3, 2012)
• Project A.D. (December 2012)

External links

• Anslem Douglas Official Website*
• Anslem Douglas Facebook Page*
• Anslem Douglas on Twitter*
• Anslem Douglas on YouTube*
• Anslem Douglas on CD Baby*
• Anslem Douglas on iTunes*
• Anslem Douglas EPK on Sonicbids*
• Encouraged by fans and friends Anslem Douglas returns* - January 20, 2013 (Guardian.co.tt)
• Anslem Douglas gears up for Carnival 2013 with 'Bacchanal'* - January 13, 2013 (ttnewsflash.com)
• A new vibe for Anslem Douglas* - July 29, 2012 (Brampton Guardian)
• Anslem Douglas profile Canoe.ca
• Anslem Douglas makes comeback - October 6, 2006 (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)
• THE MAN WITH THE BARK - By Joan Rampersad; February 10, 1998: The Independent, Pages 18,20