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Karen Gibson Roc is an astonishment. This Brooklyn-based (by
way of Jamaica and Canada) poet and musician is fierce and fearless. A musical chameleon that calls herself a "poetist" or
poetic vocalist. Karen Gibson Roc is so committed to what she is doing, she even dreams in rhyme!
She has been compared to Gil Scott-Heron, a declaiming pioneer of the 1960s ("The Revolution
Will Not Be Televised," "Johannesburg") and I can see a similarity.
I see her more as a poet/musician in the mode of the greatest of all New York City divas, Patti
Smith, following her creative itchiness wherever it may lead her. (to read full article click link below)
http://www.brokeruniverse.com/boomerbox/archive/?column=20060915.htm
BIOGRAPHY
Karen has graced such stages as: Glamorama - A fundraiser
for both The Children’s Cancer Research Fund and The Art Institute of Chicago, it was put together by Marshall Fields
in conjunction with The Ford Modeling agency. Karen shared the bill with the likes of Patti Labelle, The Commodores and Sheila
E. She has also performed for Russell Simmons on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, Chicago’s Fashion Week w/Marshall Fields,
S.O.B’s, Central Parks summer stage with the Lyricist Lounge, and with the band at The Brooklyn Academy of Music Opera
House for Def Poetry Plugged In, The Whitney Museum, CMJ, Joe’s Pub, C.B.G.B’s C.B.G.B’s Gallery, Acme Underground,
Bowery Poetry Club, Nuyorican Poet’s Café, and many many more.
Karen has completed a project for Viacom/The
Kaiser Foundation, an AIDS testing awareness radio spot that she wrote (other artists included Common) and a VH1 SOUL commercial
spot (currently running). She is a Canadian Council for the Arts-Grant Recipient for The Spoken Word and Storytelling Program
(dub rap poetry).
Karen is featured on the recording “Future Waves of Black Folks” by Champion Soul-remixed
by I.G.CULTURE, released by Main Squeeze and distributed by Goya Records. She is also on the record “Chea Chea”
produced by Andrew Brown as part of a compilation put out by Kickin music ltd, “King Britt presents – jazzmental”
– distributed in France by Universal Music and in Japan by JVC Entertainment.
Karen Gibson Roc is the executive
producer of her independently recorded and released album “5&2fish” - 2003. KGR and Fluid released a CD “Live
@ The Whitney Museum NYC” - 2006. KGR and Fluid have also completed a live DVD/CD project “Traveling With Light”
- 2007 (Produced by Lbm Productions with funding from The Canadian Council Of The Arts). Karen was born on the island
of Jamaica W.I. and raised in Toronto, Ontario.
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