From the mid-1970s through the early 1990s, Brooklyn, NewNY, Yorkin Citythe United States, became a center for soca music production. The borough, home to a large and diverse West Indian population, boasted three important Caribbean immigrant-owned record companies: Straker’s Records (owned by [[Granville Straker]]), Charlie’s Records (owned by Rawlston Charles), and B’s Records (owned by Michael Gould). Nearly every important calypsonian/soca singer of the era recorded on one or more of these Brooklyn labels, resulting in a significant expansion of the music’s international reach. Taking advantage of New York’s advanced recording and mixing facilities, several top calypsonians turned soca singers, including the [[Mighty Sparrow]], [[Calypso Rose]], and the Mighty Duke, relocated to the city. Others, including Chalkdust, [[Lord Kitchener (calypsonian)|Lord Kitchener]], Explainer, Swallow, and Shadow, cycled between the Caribbean and Brooklyn to record and perform.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Allen |first=Ray |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1100450802 |title=Jump up! : Caribbean Carnival music in New York City |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-065688-1 |location=New York, NY |pages=143-188 |oclc=1100450802}}</ref>