Oswin Chin Behilia belongs to that select group of singer/songwriters whose music combines memorable tunes with lyrics that reflect social and personal concerns. Mention his name to a fellow native of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles and his face lights up with fond recognition. Both young and old consider his song Plegaria, for instance, as the folk alternative to the national anthem, while Sunú is universally regarded as one of the classic love songs in Papiamentu, the creole language spoken on the islands of Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela.

Born on 15 December 1938, this man of many talents has led an eventful life both in and out of the world of music and was he knighted by the Queen of the Netherlands for contributions in several fields to his native island as musician, broadcaster, politician, impresario and mentor to young talent.

Oswin Chin Behilia's songs have been covered by a host of his native island's finest musicians, some of whom include the rising young star Izaline Calister who has interpreted Sunú, No Bai and Plegaria in jazz settings with her compatriot, the pianist Randall Corsen. Oswin Chin Behilia attracted attention from European promoters at the 2002 and 2003 WOMEX fairs in Essen and Sevilla where he was featured both times on Charlie Gillett's BBC Radio show and his album Bendishon disfrasa/Blessing in Disguise was selected by Songlines for their Top 50 Summer Albums of 2005 and was also chosen world music record of the month by Radio France International in August 2004. Oswin performed as guest vocalist with Randal Corsen’s big band Tumbabó at the 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague. Oswin toured in Great Britain under the auspices of the African Caribbean Music Circuit in October 2005.