One of the biggest parties of the summer has been cancelled this year after soca legend Byron Lee suffered a mild stroke, according to promoter Eddy DeMello.

The Byron Lee and the Dragonaires concert - popularly known as the Soca Show - is considered almost as much of a summer ritual as Cup Match by many Bermudians.

Bermuda's young and old in the thousands attend the annual show, usually held at Tiger Bay in St. George's.

Mr. DeMello said yesterday that the Dragonaires had cancelled their trip to Bermuda after Mr. Lee suffered a mild stroke several weeks ago.

Mr. Lee indicated that the he and his band will be back next year, Mr. DeMello said. In the meantime, he is working on bringing another soca act into the Island, though he admitted other acts would not draw the masses like the unbeatable performance of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.

Though disappointed that Mr. Lee will not be making an appearance this year, many young people who spoke with The Royal Gazette hoped Mr. DeMello would still hold the Soca Show, with or without the Dragonaires.

"If we can't have Byron Lee, we can still have soca," one disappointed local said. "It's practically a rite of passage. I hope they can still put something on."

"I have been trying to replace them, but it's not easy to replace someone like Byron Lee," Mr. DeMello said yesterday. "Don't give up yet."