Jason Rosteing, known professionally as Dr. Jay de Soca Prince, is a Canadian DJ, radio show host, record producer, and promoter. He gained notoriety as the host of Soca Therapy,[1] a weekly Toronto radio show broadcast on CFXJ-FM Flow 93.5 FM,[2] and subsequently, CKFG-FM G98.7 FM.[3] He is considered an icon in the Canadian Caribbean diaspora for playing soca music on mainstream radio, hosting large soca events in and around Toronto, and cultivating a thriving "soca scene" within the Greater Toronto Area.[4]
Jason Rosteing grew up in the Greater Toronto Area, and hailed from a family of mixed Caribbean heritage. His mother, Dianna Rosteing (1950-2022),[5] was born in Georgetown, Guyana. His father, Michael Rosteing, was born in Trinidad.[6] His uncle, Clive Rosteing, was a member of the Trinidadian calypso band, The Tradewinds. He has a younger sister, Myana.
Rosteing developed his interest in music due to the musical influence of his parents. His earliest memories include his father, who was a former musician, singing and dancing around him. His parents also showed him how to use record players as a young child.[7]
Before becoming a radio personality, Rosteing wanted to become a social worker in order to make a difference in his community.
In 2001, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince began his career as a radio show host and DJ on Flow 93.5FM. Every Sunday evening from 6-8pm EST, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince played a combination of soca, calypso, and kaiso - alongside other genres of Caribbean music - on his show, Soca Therapy. On February 2, 2011, Soca Therapy was taken off the airwaves alongside other popular radio shows due to CTV's purchase of Flow 93.5FM.[8]
Soca Therapy shortly found its new home on Fitzroy Gordon's new radio station, G 98.7 FM, four months later.[9] However, on January 24, 2014, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince announced his resignation.[10] On March 23, 2014, Soca Therapy was back on the Toronto airwaves via CHRY 105.5 FM.[11]
On October 28, 2020, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince returned to Flow 93.5. FM.[12] He continued on as a radio show host and DJ for Soca Therapy until Flow 93.5 FM was sold to G 98.7 FM on February 14, 2022.[13]
On February 6, 2022, Dr. Jay de Soca Prince launched Soca Therapy as an online podcast available on Apple Podcast.[14] [15] On August 2, 2023, he partnered with Spotify to curate a "Carnival Sounds" playlist for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
| 1998 | Toronto DJ of the Year | Won[16] [17] | ||
| 1999 | Toronto DJ of the Year | Won | ||
| 2001 | Canadian Urban Music Awards | Best Radio/Media Personality | Nominated | |
| 2002 | Canadian Urban Music Awards | Best Radio/Media Personality | Won[18] | |
| 2003 | Canadian Urban Music Awards | Best Radio/Media Personality | Nominated | |
| 2004 | Canadian Urban Music Awards | Best Radio/Media Personality | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Soca Awards Organization | International Soca DJ of the Year | Won | |
| 2006 | Soca Awards Organization | International Soca DJ of the Year | Won | |
| DJ Stylus Awards | Soca DJ of the Year | Won | ||
| 2007 | DJ Stylus Awards | Soca DJ of the Year | Won | |
| 2008 | DJ Stylus Awards | Soca DJ of the Year | Won | |
| 2009 | DJ Stylus Awards | Soca DJ of the Year | Won[19] |