Read this entry on the famous Barbadian Ken Jone’s Facebook timeline and it resonated. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It explains the DNA of an ordinary Bajan. Ken Jones 1 hr · The Greatest grave 50 years of Independence .I listen to Larry Mayers and hear all the comments etc..…
Read this entry on the famous Barbadian Ken Jone’s Facebook timeline and it resonated. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It explains the DNA of an ordinary Bajan.
Ken Jones
1 hr ·
The Greatest grave 50 years of Independence .I listen to Larry Mayers and hear all the comments etc.. Question did they really love this man? I wonder.
“Sargeant September 18, 2016 at 7:23 PM #
It’s always “woe is me” or “poor black man” excuse for our shortcomings and earlier the suggestion was made that the Merrymen succeeded at the expense of Jackie Opel. Nothing could be further from the truth; Jackie’s music bore no relation to the Merrymen’s and one should give credit where its due. The Merrymen exploited a niche that in hindsight should have been apparent to anyone with half a brain.”
Not entirely disputing your contribution Mr Sarge; it does have some merit but no one can convince me that the Merrymen with the leader Emile’ Hunte’s father selling the requisite musical equipment in those days did not have a leg up and that opportunity did not abound because of colour and connection.
@Hants
Checked to see if there was a Podcast of Larry Mayers Show yesterday with the Original Troubadours. What Ken revealed is that the Merrymen band was used by government to support the marketing effort of the then BTA. t explains why they became popular. Do not mind ‘balance’ posting BS.
PUDR and Bushie,
The popularity of the Merrymen was the engine that fostered in the British, first, an appreciation for a musical genre that was new. The introduction of Barbadian Folk Music to an audience that knew nothing about it. It grew in Europe, and also in Canada when they began touring there, and despite what Hants said, the Black Barbadians, along with the whites came to appreciate and support their music. Even today it is still popular. One important thing a lot of people forget, and some may not even be aware of, it was through the efforts of the Merrymen, that a record industry was built and established in Barbados. They built and managed West Indian Records Ltd,in St. Thomas, that produced and published, almost all of the records that were made in that era, by West Indian musicians. Jackie Opel’s records were made and produced in and by WIRL. It was only after the place was destroyed by fire that the recording industry in Barbados died, and was never rebuilt. A lot of praise is due to them and the growth of music in Barbados. All the support of government would be of no use if people did not like their product. Popularity cannot be “forced” on anyone, If the product is not worthwhile, nobody will buy it, and it will die in a short time. The music of the Merrymen still resonates today over fifty years after “their”(the Merrymens’) birth.
And Hants, why do you specifically bring attention to “a Black drummer. The Merrymen were not “white”. It was a “mixed” group.
All the members have black blood, and it was a group that have stayed together over fifty years. I am tired of this black, white bull turd. Christ man we are all people. If a Blind man listened to their music he would not know the colour of the players without being told. Get this shite out of all of you psyche.
Hants….I also know the “black drummer” percussionist for spice…makes no difference to me.
I should say former percussionist, he lives in Canada, saw him a few months ago, think he is in Barbados now.
“What Ken revealed is that the Merrymen band was used by government to support the marketing effort of the then BTA. t explains why they became popular. Do not mind ‘balance’ posting BS.”
Your post suggests that you do support the BS given that the Government chose to employ these white fellows sorry the Merrymen rather than other struggling black entertainers to promote tourism. I do not know what was so attractive about their millie gone to Brazil children music that could lure tourists to the island or was there another sinister motive perhaps the thinking that those whom we sought to our attract to our shores would feel more comfortable with their own kith and kin.
“I am tired of this black, white bull turd. Christ man we are all people. If a Blind man listened to their music he would not know the colour of the players without being told. Get this shite out of all of you psyche.”
Not me I live in the real world. you can continue to wallow in the myth of the sons of slaves and slave-masters sitting down together at the table of brotherhood.
Don’t mind Alvin…let him return to the US, the first bullet he gets from a racist will curehim and Oedant if their idiocy…why ya think he hides out in Canada…and only returns to Barbados to spread his slave minded bullshit idiocy.
They still play 50s bluegrass music in Barbados.., especially when they see tourists…what does that tell ya about the fcked up mind of the slaves in parliament, board of tourism…coming down the line.
Merrymen was folks songs, folklores fairytales…that was what they knew.
This band is 5 times better than the Merrymen AND the members have not been given due recognition.
https://www.facebook.com/BarbadosToday/videos/10153971116258191/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED
Of course the hypocrites in Barbados would not want to recognize or give credit to their OWN, dont care how fine they sound..
But……KARMA is now dictatating that they will OWN NOTHING on the island…they will have nothing to call THEIR OWN.
The BLACK drummer I refer to is Boo Rudder senior who played as a studio drummer on a recording of “Archie brek dem up” by the Merry Men .
Boo was my favorite drummer, Manny Leslie my favorite lead guitarist and the BRC my favorite band in the 60s and 70s.
I spent a lot of my boy days playing guitar and if I had not emigrated to Canada I would have been a member of a band that became very popular in the 70s and 80s.
Barbados has had very good muscians and bands over the years and I continue to enjoy music by guys like Rickey Aimey, Nicholas Brancker, Elan Trotman, Aturo Tappin and others.
We need to have a Musicians ” Hall of Fame ” to showcase the talent of Bajan musicians past and present.
@ Hants September 21, 2016 at 7:38 PM
“Boo was my favorite drummer, Manny Leslie my favorite lead guitarist and the BRC my favorite band in the 60s and 70s.”
“We need to have a Musicians ” Hall of Fame ” to showcase the talent of Bajan musicians past and present.”
Hants, what ever became of Dockie Roberts?
The restoration of the Empire Theatre building was supposed to house a hall of fame for musicians.
But there is still hope in the promised construction of a Performing Arts Centre on Brandons awaiting the release of Chinese grant money by Sinckler.
@ millertheannunaki,
Found this on one of my links.
”
28/06/2013 @ 2:59 PM CLIFF DOC ROBERTS
Hi Lew ,
great interview , just to let you know that I am putting together a Musical Series which includes the origin of today’s Music which we are part of (the Blue Rhythm Combo ). Those were the days , it is a full circle of life as Mannie , David and myself are now living in the same area and have just finish recording some tracks to be released soon as well as our story in the contribution to the Music industry
The Blue Rhythm Combo ( B R C ) stay kool as you always do
Dockie Roberts Guitarist Singer , Blue Rhythm Combo .
Manny on lead guitar. Sweeeet !
Another good Bajan band that played at hotels. Lots of Bajan music on YouTube.
Stephen,Algy,Trevor,TC,Thomas,Tony,Audley
Balance,
You can choose to live in the era of slavery, and keep your mind shackled to the slave ship. I have moved on. I live in a real world and not one of fantasy and postulated utopia. You can keep dreaming and hoping, for all you know about slavery is what you would have read. This is the twenty-first century now, and the past can never be relived or erased. Have you ever thought that you are just as bad, and your racism; like that of Well Well, just as bad as those whom you castigate? ALL kinds of people were attracted by their music. You are one of those who killed Jackie Opel’s music. You did not, and still do not have an appreciation of what is your own. Have you ever examined Trevor Marshall’s book on, and of, the folk music of Barbados? I’ll bet you are not even aware that such a book exists. To you the music is to be denigrated. Why? Because it is your own, and you look down on it with scorn. The Merrymen gave it a worldwide audience, that was appreciated by those who heard it..
David,
the music and musicians in the video are of a different era, and genre.. The Merrymen came on the scene and played music that was new to Canadians, and provided immigrants with a memory of home that was nostalgic and needed by them to fill a void in their lives. Their music attracted many thousands of tourists to the island, and when they performed thousands attended their performances in Canada, England, and Europe. Colour did not matter and they were never seen by those who came to their performances as of a different colour. They were good musicians and were accepted as such.Their music was different and reminded those from home, of home. Crossfyah has its own following. I too love their music. Phil Phillips has done a good job as their manager. He just has not gone far enough.
Well Well,
If I did not get shot when I was at University in the sixties, in Upstate New York, or when I joined protest marches, bringing “Civil Rights” to people like you, why would I get shot now? Why would I be afraid now that I have reached the end of my days?. Why would I want to have anything to do with the U.S., except to pass through, especially when everything odious is being exposed? You are always talking about Leroy Parris, what do you have to say about Donald Trump? You want anything worse than him?You want a bigger scam artist than him? and yet so many people think he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. What a bunch of losers!
Alvin…ya did not get shot in the 60s, but ya sure as shit would get shot now…different era.
Q……Did Donald Trump steal money from Clico policyholders in Barbados?
A……, No, it was thiefing Leroy Parris, with the help of David Thompson.
@ Alvin Cummins September 21, 2016 at 10:23 PM
“You are always talking about Leroy Parris, what do you have to say about Donald Trump? You want anything worse than him?You want a bigger scam artist than him? and yet so many people think he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. What a bunch of losers!”
Alvin, why don’t you carry the comparison to its bitter end and say the only difference between Parris and Trump is that Parris is protected by his PM whereas Trump has no such support in the now White & Black House.
Let’s frame your analogy this way: If Parris was in the USA he would be where Stanford and Madoff are right now.
So too could Trump, should such allegations be proven against him as they have been against Parris per the JM forensic audit.
That’s the difference between the banana republic called Barbados and the real republic called the grand ole Uncle Sam of America where even the King of Ponzi schemes can go to jail.
BTW, you take on the importance of the “Merrymen” in promoting Bim as a tourist paradise and in bringing a ray of musical and cultural sunshine to Bajans in the Diaspora does have some merit to it.
Alvin always misses the point..Trump is currently under investigation for dipping his thieving hands into money of some foundation he ran, there is another investigation going because it was found that Trump was smuggling eastern european women into the US illegally, human trafficking…the hypocrite.
Alvin…do you have any phptos or proof you were involved in civil rights marches in the 60s, were you gassed, arrested, beaten by police, water hosed or bitten by police dogs..and would you do the same for the people who are not getting potable water on the island now, a basic human right….would you go into Barbados and march with them or on their behalf, woukd you go to the BWA and protest, holding up a sign..
Do not involve me in ya crap
“You want anything worse than him?You want a bigger scam artist than him? and yet so many people think he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. What a bunch of losers!”
Those remarks certainly apply to crooked Hilary. Despite all of Mr Trump’s currently trumped up sins of omission and commission to equate him in similar light to Mrs Clinton with her known sins ; I am not aware that Mr Trump has ever been investigated by the FBI all the crook and liar we say he is.
David September 21, 2016 at 4:39 PM #
“This band is 5 times better than the Merrymen AND the members have not been given due recognition.”
And yet you accuse me of talking BS because you kinda slow in comprehending.
I have moved on. I live in a real world and not one of fantasy and postulated utopia.
Exactly- so did the black man who was just shot by police in Charlotte.
Calls for homeland security to investigate Trump
Trump is scum, Killary is scum….ya surrounded by a pool of scum.
Well Well,
“Alvin…do you have any phptos or proof you were involved in civil rights marches in the 60s, were you gassed, arrested, beaten by police, water hosed or bitten by police dogs..and would you do the same for the people who are not getting potable water on the island now, a basic human right….would you go into Barbados and march with them or on their behalf, woukd you go to the BWA and protest, holding up a sign..”
I copied and pasted this because I want you to read what you wrote again.
This statement has confirmed what I said before You are an ass; frustrated because of some early experiences, that prevent you from thinking clearly. YOU ARE SO INFLUENCED BY YOUR FRUSTRATIONS, that the only solution you see to your perceived disadvantages, is colour, confrontation and violence. I don’t have to present photos (in those days there were no “selfies”) to prove that I protested. I don’t have to be gassed; I don’t have to show evidence of beating to protest against wrongs. I was in Jamaica in 1969 when the Jamaica Police beat and roughly handled students who protested at the treatment showed to Walter Rodney. I was among those protesters. Ask Trevor Marshall who was one of those beaten. I was not beaten, because a Jamaican hustled me into his car and transported me safely downtown, where the students gathered. When Barbadians protested against the proposed construction of a wall at Mullins, I protested through my letters to the editor because I was not in the island at the time. I don’t have to walk around with a sign of protest against the BWA, because I understand the challenges of the BWA. the protestors have a right to feel wronged because their expectations are not being me, but the refuse to indicate their understanding of what these challenges are. Right now, as I write this, the people of Halifax Nova Scotia, have water difficulties. Because of the drought their water wells are dry, their streams are mere tricles, and their rivers are drying up. They cannot make the rains come, and they have to resort to what water they can get from whatever source There are no protests, because they understand the situation.In Barbados patience is required until the problems are finally solved. As a boy, growing up in Barbados, it was known that every crop season, parts of the island would experience water shortages and water outages. There were no signs and marches, because people understood and prepared for these occurrences.
It is not to say that the BWA is not making an effort eo solve the problem, they are working on it.Marching, carrying a sign, and protesting is not going to bring the rain and solve the problem.
Grow up and join the real world. Understand circumstances and above all be truthful. Your reference to CLICO, and your favourite whipping boy has been beaten to a pulp, and your extreme bias is shown in your references to it. Paris was not the person who introduced EPAs and EFPAs, as instruments. He was a manager doing his job. He did not engineer the collapse of the company. CL Financial collapsed and brought the house of cards down. Why don’t you Blame Allan Fields for the collapse of BS&T? How much money did he make out of the sale? How come nobody has called for an investigation of that whole debacle?
Wheel aND COME AGAIN.
David,
Note that nearly all the music and musicians of the era when the Merrymen was being recorded, as well as nearly all of the local music was recorded by West Indies Recording (WIRL) the Ice Label is Eddie Grant who later produced most of the recorded musicAT HIS ST. PHILIP STUDIO.
IT IS VERY INTERESTING THAT THERE IS A DISPUTE REGARDING THE WINNER OF THE MISS BARBADOS COMPETITION. ON THIS BLOG. THE MISS BARBADOS SONG COMPOSED BY GABBY, COMMENTS OF A PREVIOUS WINNER, WHO WAS OF BARBADIAN PARENTAGE BUT BORN IN CANADA. NOW WE HAVE A BORN AND BRED BAJAN, A STUDEN T OF HARRISON COLLEGE, WHOS ONLY “FLAW ” IS THAT SHE IS A “BAJAN WHITE. Now it is a subject of comment. Why? Barbados indeed has in many racists. They object to Bizzy, and Maloney, and COW, etc etc. Should the “Bajan whites ask to be taken up to the Earth station in the sky, and asked to be allowed to step off? When will this foolishness perpetuated by people like, Piece, Balance, Miller and company,going to stop>
Alvin…you always ask for proof of corruption…proof of Leroy Parris and David Thompson stealing from policyholders. .., though Parris is in court fighting a charge…that is nit enough proof for you.
……I asked you for proof that you marched in the 60s re civil rights in the US…that is all.
Ya seem to think your marching helped me,…., so I want proof.
Well Well & Consequences September 23, 2016 at 8:05 AM #
Bookworm…I believe there is much more to it than that, but those with illusions of power on the island are such hypocrites, liars and use any means necessary to cover up their slimy actions..that it always results in controversy and having to protest too much….In the newspapers every five minutes.
It would do them well to shut up, stop trying to explain away everything..cause the judges will not care about their issues on the island as long as it does not affect their franchise…..and see if the girl can cut it internationally..come January.
There was more than one white female sent before, they even sent a white Canadian and they did not cut it, could not reach the top 5…same applied to black females who were sent.
If shedoes not make it into the top 10 or 20, they may want to rethink how the selection process is determined and base it on advanced education, talents, skills, specialties…like intelligent people do.
If there were any dishonest or unfair practices back then during the selection process of the local show……it will all come out in the wash.
Alvin…read and weep…you jackass…people are entitled to their opinions, goid ir bad…a matter of opinion.
The issue is not one of color but can she compete with women who are graduates, specialists in several fields, professionals, masters in several skills with talent to back it up and most of those females also speaking several languanges, attended 3 or 4 universities and naturally all of them attended kindergarten and grade school like St. Angelas and high schools like Harrison College. You need an exceptional candidade, you need to choose professionals with noted exceptional skills.
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Sodi Daniela Gomez
7 hours ago
Exactly. That is the core issue. Mention of color seems diversionary. Although those who have mentioned it have the right to do so. You cannot tell people how to think or what to say. You need an exceptional candidate, with the skills, talent, and education to be able to be in the same category as the types of candidates who typically ascend to the top. Exceptional candidates have attended colleges, have advanced degrees, and are skilled brand ambassadors. High School does NOT count. Everyone goes to high school.
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PB Sodi
3 hours ago
Very much so, its big business as the rewards are huge. Third world candidates will never reach that level as we only look at the facial features where as others look at the brain as well.
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PB Daniela Gomez
3 hours ago
You are absolutely correct in that regard, it is no longer a “game show”, its a very competitive environment that takes now prisoners, so you better be up to the mark,
unfortunately, some of us don’t see it like that.
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PB
16 hours ago
““I am a Bajan; I have lived here all my life and I am happy to be Bajan,”
Excellent…. now you focus on whats ahead of you and forget about those who only see life in terms of black and white, what a pity.
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Janelle Atwell PB
3 hours ago
Lot of pressure being on that stage.
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PB Janelle Atwell
3 hours ago
Yes it is, that is why the level of maturity needs to be there and the requisite level of education.
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SK PB
7 hours ago
Sadly this is evident across the Caribbean. And I understand the reaction.
In my opinion since some of the islands are predominantly black, maybe some of us believe that a true representation of the island should be from the black race.
It is interesting because if we pause for a second and think about our history, then it stands to reason that since we are a melting pot of ethnicities that it should not matter who represents us.
Unfortunately too, what is being pushed in our faces as the definition of beauty something that is so blatantly pushed by the fashion and entertainment industry etc, contributes to this type of reaction we are seeing here.
I am mixed. Indian and black, but I am often mistaken for a Latino. St.Lucians ask me if I am from St.Lucia. If I travel to the other islands nobody identifies me as being St.Lucian until I start to speak. When I visit Trinidad and start to speak I normally get stares, sometimes I get asked, “you sure you Lucian?” I had the experience of a Bajan in St.Lucia grilling me to find out if I was Trinidadian or from some Spanish country. I had to remind him that based on our history, Indians came as indentured labourers and my paternal great grandparents were from India.
When I visit the US they mostly start speaking Spanish to me until I tell them I don’t understand and then they ask about my accent.These have always been my experiences.
My point is perhaps we need to revisit the history books to remind ourelves of the people who came.
The same happens to me in the US, but the difference is, I babble in spanish in the US…I babble in french in Canada..etc…etc.
Yall aint ready yet.
@ Alvin Cummins September 23, 2016 at 4:19 PM
“Now it is a subject of comment. Why? Barbados indeed has in many racists. They object to Bizzy, and Maloney, and COW, etc etc. Should the “Bajan whites ask to be taken up to the Earth station in the sky, and asked to be allowed to step off? When will this foolishness perpetuated by people like, Piece, Balance, Miller and company,going to stop..”
Alvin, why don’t you leave my name out of your obvious demented rants against people who don’t share your partisan political views?
I am one of the biggest defenders on BU of the same Bajan white people.
I think they are a now toothless breed that is fast dying out just like your kind of political yard-fowl. The people you should be concerned about are from the East; not from West.
It’s really comically amusing how you would wish to find support for a marginal ethnic group which you claim was the biggest opponent to EWB and his proposal for Independence?
How come after cussing them left right and centre for the bad things they did to blacks prior to 1961 this same set of disappearing people are now your own blued-eyed boys to be protected like a real endangered species?
Ya notice that Alvin never chastises the minority racists in Barbados…who I am sure made sure he had a taste of their racist practices when he grew up and as an adult in the 50s…before he went to the US and had a different experience.
He still carrieses the mind of the house nigga,….yes suh…no suh….I sorry so.., those niggas have no right saying that about you suh…
the weakest of the black males…the weakest link.
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