Defiant Sun

Poet/Host/Promoter Mannie a Brooklyn native of Puerto Rican and German decent, relocated to Lawton, Oklahoma in 2002. Mannie spent 9 years on active duty where his highest achieved rank was Staff Sergeant. While in the military, he went on numerous campaigns which included being deployed to Somalia, Rwanda, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Bosnia. After he left the military in 2001 he resided in Newport News, VA where he worked for Coca-Cola Enterprises until his mother had a stroke and then moved to Lawton, Oklahoma to help take care of his mother. Since his stay in Lawton, Oklahoma, Mannie decided to started school, which at a late age is a struggle. He attends Cameron University where his major is History and Political Science. He will be graduating in May of 2007. Mannie has over come many obstacles which include surviving cancer in 2005, a battle that he is still fighting to win every day and surviving running over a land mind in Somalia. His story is fascinating on many levels; his poetry is energetic, entertaining, and heartfelt. Mannie speaks from his heart. His passion for poetry comes from the depth of his soul, at an early age Mannie started to write poetry. He was exposed to spoken word while being stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas where he went to a book store called Under One Roof in 1999, This was his poetic birth and was hooked ever since. His energetic performance and strength are heart felt within his performance. He can speak on many topics which include political, love, erotica, and history. Mannie has been writing poetry for about a total of about 15 years and started performing his art 8 years ago. He as had many accomplishments which include organizing some of the hottest shows in the state of Oklahoma on both a University level and professional level. He has also been published on www.poetry.com , www.destee.com, www.openmic.com and an article in the Dallas Examiner where he as received honors for his work. He has been interviewed by the Cameron University Collagen and been interviewed on CUTV for his poetic craft, and has been in rotation with Jazz Poetry Café Radio hosted by Phillip G. www.jazzpoetrycafe.net and Poetic Soul VI Radio www.vocalizedink.org.

Book and CD Openly Crying CD 2006 available on www.cdbaby.com/defiantsun Out of the mouth of Mannie 2006 Speaking from the Heart 2007 available on www.lulu.com Performances and Venues The Verbal High Lawton, OK 5th Avenue Soul Sunday Dallas, TX. Panache Milwaukee, WI The Mecca Milwaukee, WI Free Verse San Antonio, TX Dreams San Antonio, TX The Nuyorican Poets Café New York (LES), NY The Sutra Lounge New York (LES), NY Tulsa City Soul Tulsa, OK The VFW Lawton, OK The VFW Ft. Riley, KS Rhyme or Die Slam Killeen, TX Ft. Worth Slams Ft. Worth, TX National Poetry Slam 2006 Austin, TX The Revolutionary Room Bryan/College Station, TX Egos Austin Poetry Slam Austin, TX Neo-Soul Austin, TX Black Arts Festival Oklahoma City, Ok Women In Power Killeen, TX Reverb Lawton, OK In Poetry We Trust Lawton, OK Cosmic Café Tulsa, OK Under One Roof Killeen, TX Headys we tell stories Oklahoma City, OK. Voices of Soul Dallas, TX Pugsley Library Dallas, TX Galileos Bar and Grill Oklahoma City, OK SlamRichmond Richmond, VA Mediums Little Rock, AR The Embargo Ft. Worth, TX Voices of Soul Dallas, TX The End Zone Wichita Falls, TX Black Star Dog Denver, CO Gypsy House Denver, CO Kasbah Denver, CO Legacies Books and Bar St. Louis One Mic in the Filter Bar St. Louis Colleges and University Cameron University Lawton, OK. Texas A&M College Station, TX Radio and Television Jazz Poetry Café Radio www.jazzpoetrycafe.net Poetic Soul VI Radio www.vocalizedink.org CUTV Cameron University Spoken Rhymz Radio hosted by Poetic Soul www.spokenrythmz.blogspot.com N.A.T Radio Spotlight on Jazz and Poetry www.natradio.com/sojp Press Releases Dallas Examiner 2005 The Cameron University Collegian 2006 Interviewed by Beverly Vereen 2006 AOL/Entertainment (under Time Warner) 2006 Featured Poet on Poets Universe 2007 www.poetuniverse.com Featured Poet on Spoken Rhymz Radio 2007 Lawton Constitution 2007 Feature Poet on Jazz and Poetry by Big Trigger 2007

I do live shows all the time, all over the country... a few but I rather not talk about them

wow, to many to count and place here.

a microphone