Algernon Delano Rabess or 'Syncae' as he is known to one and all is a poet, singer/songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist and actor. Born and raised on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean, he migrated to Canada in 1988 and now lives in Toronto.

Syncae has worked as a teacher, farmer, cultural worker, barber, and touring musician bringing a wealth of experience to any project he is involved in. From goatskin drum and bamboo flute to guitar, this self-taught musician has had many musical influences from Latin Gregorian chants in the church choir to local folk music festivals like Carnival and Christmas. Growing up in a small island village, his father was the school principal and taught music and sang in the church choir. Syncae absorbed all of this as well as both local and foreign influences that came to him via the radio from calypso, ska, rocksteady and Haitian compas to biguine and cadence of the neighbouring French speaking islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe alongside soul, blues, jazz, rock and pop. Reggae would come later. With his brother and two cousins, he formed his first band 'Milestones' shortly after leaving high school. This evolved into 'Malissa', which would later become 'Mantra' in the mid to late seventies. These bands played original and cover songs in calypso, cadence, reggae, funky soul and Latin.

In the mid-eighties Syncae entered the calypso competition arena as 'Redman' and changed the face of calypso competition by influencing other musicians to enter the fray. The late eighties would take him to Minneapolis where Prince was showering his legion of fans with Purple Rain, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were busting out and the Twins (as in Minnesota Twins) were hot. Perhaps it was just coincidence or it could be that Syncae was following a winning streak because after he arrived in Toronto the Blue Jays steadily improved their standings until in the summer of 1992 the Jays finally cracked the World Series. Did we mention that Syncae also has a passion for Baseball.

Settling into the pace and pulse of big city life in Toronto took precedence over the music and it was not until the mid-nineties that Syncae was able to pursue his passion for music again. Together with fellow Dominican Bird Bellony, Syncae founded the 'Reggae Cowboys' which having recorded three albums to date has now developed a devoted following and consistently tour across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and France.

Syncae is fluent in four languages English, French, Creole and Music and all the pieces that you find on the AHANAIE web site in Creole can be credited to him. The promotion and advancement of the Creole language is yet another of his many passions. His wide-open style and jaunty sense of humor always adds a lively element of "expect the unexpected" to any rehearsal or performance. Syncae has developed a unique vocal range that has a deep connection to basic Calypso and Reggae impulses. Add to this his flair for dramatic expression and his deep commitment to improving his art form and it all adds up to: a really impressive and inspiring performer with a liberated approach to simply singing his own song.