Caribbean Soca Artist Oscar B Dies

Belizeans who danced to his music every September are among those mourning the death of Trinidadian singer Oscar Dennis Benjamin, better known as Oscar B, who died Sunday morning following a period of illness.

Oscar B rose to fame as the lead singer of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, one of the Caribbean’s most influential soca and calypso bands. He became a familiar and beloved face in Belize, where he performed for years as part of the band’s annual September celebrations.

After leaving the Dragonaires, Oscar B continued returning to Belize as a solo artist, keeping his connection with local fans alive through energetic shows known for his trademark “butterfly” dance move.

Just days before he died, Tobago’s Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine, told the Tobago House of Assembly during budget debate that the Assembly had approved funding to help cover Oscar B’s medical expenses. “We have Oscar B ordinarily singing at our functions and not realising his mark on the region and the globe,” Augustine said.

Tributes have poured in from both Tobago and Belize. In Belize, fans shared personal memories of meeting the singer over the years. One woman recalled celebrating her wedding anniversary in Caye Caulker, where she and her husband ran into Oscar B at the Split. After asking for a photo and mentioning the occasion, she said he broke into song for them on the spot.

Another fan remembered being pulled on stage at the Biltmore to perform the butterfly dance with him, calling it “an awesome performance”. While others recalled him singing at a friend’s 50th birthday party in 2018, another remembered meeting him at a Belize City store in 2017, where he signed a Trinidadian dollar bill and gave it to her as a keepsake.