 In 1962, four young musicians made their debut at the Drift Wood Cellar Bar in the island's lively St. Lawrence Gap. Calling themselves 'The Merrymen', and commanding a performance fee of a mere US$18 a night, none of them could ever have imagined the successes that lay ahead of them.
For today, The Merrymen are Barbados' absolute, all-time number one band. And though celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, the band's members remain among the island's most outstanding musical ambassadors.
Bandleader and lead vocalist, Emile Straker, smiles as he recalls his early childhood love affair with music. "I grew up very close to Queen's Park (in Bridgetown) and I would always listen to the folk music shows that were held there. I would drum and whistle whenever I had the chance, and would play music on the desks at school."
Band member Robin Hunte also recounts his early musical leanings. "I was born to play music." he says, "My mother gave me a little banjo when I was maybe 12 years old. I promptly disappeared for 2 days after that, and went down to a near-by village called Sandy Ground where many great guitar players hung out. And it was there that I learnt to play."
Along with Stephen Fields and Chris Gibbs, the Merrymen were to the Caribbean what the Beatles were to the world, Explosive!!
Just three years into their career they were playing in front of audiences at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City, bringing acclaim to their far-away island home. Their number one hit "Big Bamboo" became a chart topper in every Caribbean territory and even went to the #1 spot on the musical charts of Holland, Germany and Belgium. "That song changed our lives," says Hunte.
They then went on to play at such prestigious venues as The Madison Square Garden, The Royal Festival Hall, The Blackpool Opera House, and Trafalgar Square in London. They broke attendance records at many of their venues - especially in Canada - and shared stages with the likes of Bob Hope, Rich Little, Count Basie, Chuck Berry, and Tom Jones. They even entertained at a private party for the "Chairman of the Board" himself - Frank Sinatra. "He spoke well with us and encouraged us," says Straker, "and that meant quite a lot to us, both then and now."
The Merrymen believe that their success is in large part due to the 'unique sound that will always stay with (them)' and though they do not tour as widely as before, the band is still quite active. "We do a lot of concerts for charity now," they say, "and are preparing to launch our 40th collection of music."
"It has been an unbelievable dream." says Hunte. "We have done our best and we have had lots of fun."
History will forever attest to the prowess of this Barbadian Band, the minstrels called the Merrymen.
Article written in 2003 and compliments of "Ins and Outs of Barbados" Magazine
|
