
Ambassador Junior Lion
Ambassador Junior Lion, is a rising star in the reggae scene, hailing from St-Martin, he started making music professionally in 1997-1998. He can sing, chat, and rap, and his music is influenced by reggae and dancehall, but crosses to hip hop, and R&B.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Elliot McCarrell Laurence (a.k.a Ambassador Junior Lion) was born on February 19th 1980 in French St. Martin. He grew up in the district of Round the Pond, where he attended French Quarter Primary School and then College de St. Martin and then unto Lycee Polyvalent College where he studied Auto Mechanics.
His father, Alfred Laurence father of many was a Boxer, fisherman and a mason, he died on July 1997. His mother is Veronica Francis, a mother of two, a Housewife, Writer and singer.
Junior Lion was inspired by his older brother, Pompette, a.k.a Lion, thus his name Junior Lion. His brother, a chanter and dancer who listen to Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Big Youth and many more. This gave Him early inspirations for Reggae Music.
Junior Lion comes from a Musical Family, His sisters Lydia and Shantell Laurence are international Zouk singers. At age 5-7 Junior Lion was the lead singer for his church Choir a feat he mastered by the teaching of his mother, to sing different notes.
At the age thirteen, he started writing his own songs. Then in 1997 he joined with artist and friend Shabba love, and formed Massive Crew. They performed live in high school and college, Junior Lion was then known as B.E.T Best Entertainer of Times which a name was given to him by his audience because of his ability to DJ, dance, rap and sing in different languages.
In 1998, he chose Rastafari way of life and formed his own group called Jah Nation with brethrens such as Jahlando, Miagui, Jungle and Ras Rudy aka Dj Clue still working with Massive crew. They performed in clubs, restaurants and other venues. Until members began traveling, leaving Jahlando and Junior Lion on the Journey.
Junior Lions first big show was in the summer of 1999 when he opens for a French International Reggae artist Sael at the Galisbay Sport Auditorium. On July 7th 2001 Junior Lion opened the Junior Kelly concert at the Carnival Village in Philipsburg, where he got a resounding applause. In the year 2002, he opened for the Capleton Show at the Raoul Illidge Sports Auditorium in Cay Hill. He later opened the Beenie Man concert in 2003 at Carnival Village it was here thet he got the name Ambassador Junior Lion. It was also at this event that he djayed his two hit singles Inna We County and Wha Fe know on the engine and thank yu mama rhythms. On Sun. July 31st of 2005, he performed in the Reggae Jam Fest 2k5 in Jamaica.
Ambassador Junior Lion is currently working in Jamaica and his own record label STARLINER RECORDS and is working with producers such as John Meatley, Cash Flow records JR productions, Black Scorpio, Bobby Digital, Colly Budd, and many more. Look out for his first album, entitle THE JOURNEY coming soon, and his up coming performance: October 29th 2005, in Bermuda.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
St Martin, Bermuda, Jamaica, Florida, Atlanta, and more...
Your musical influences
Bob Marley, Sizzla, ...
What equipment do you use?
Different Studios, different producers...