The Kitts Music Festival began in 1996 and was a resounding success. There are several music festivals across the Caribbean but none have leapt onto the world music scene as remarkably quickly as St. Kitts. Artists such as Kool & The Gang, Freddie Jackson, Chaka Khan, Maxi Priest, Cece Winans, Dennis Brown, Arturo Tappin, Earl Klugh, David Rudder and Hugh Masekela have appeared to large, appreciative audiences. The 1996 Festival stretched over 5 evenings and a huge variety of tastes were accounted for - Jazz, Salsa, Meringue, Calypso, Soca, Gospel, R&B, Soul, Reggae and Dancehall. This eclectic spicy mix has often been accented with rare acts as the Su Wen-Cheng Chinese Ensemble. Ultimately the flavour is unique and that is why The St. Kitts Music Festival has been an instant success.