CMEA Night of Legends Set to Rock Lions Center

The Annual ‘Night of Legends’ concert celebrating Cayman’s musical history and honoring the bands that paved the way for the Musicians of today is will be taking place at the Lion’s Centre on December 6th.

As part of the Cayman Music and Entertainment Associations Annual Calendar, this year’s event features the Kiemanaires and the Tornadoes, two bands that many Caymanians will remember from the ultra popular Galleon Beach era of live music in the Cayman Islands.

There will also be a raffle on the night, with the winning ticket levying CI$1000.00

CMEA President Mr. Jean Eric Smith noted, “We are proud to honor these musicians of yesteryear and show our appreciation for the contribution they have made to our tourism product and the social fabric of our country.”

Kiemaniares members included:

• Guitarist - Bunny Myles (Musical Icon Awardee)

• Bass guitarist - Calvin Hooker

• Drummmer - Billy Dean

• Drum and vocals - Lloyd Brown

• Drum and Vocals - Vivian Paddyfoot

• Alto Sax: Kenneth - ( Ken) Davis

• Tenor Sax - Wesley Howell (Musical Icon Awardee)

• Keyboards : George Wilks

• Vocalists: Papie Conolly, Lloyd Hill and Larry Cayasso

The Tornadoes were initially founded by Drummer: John Burns whilst working at Sea.

The band’s member included:

– 1st configuration

     • Drummer - John Burns - Drummer

     • Lead Guitar - McArthur Manderson

     • Rhythm Guitar - Lewiston Ebanks

     • Bass - Darnley Bryan

– Last configuration

     • Lead Guitar: Steve Welds

     • Rhythm Guitar: Ernie Bodden background vocals

     • Michael Hurlston drums and Vocals

     • Darnley Bryan bass

     • Clifton Papie Conolly Vocals

Other scheduled performances on the evening will include acts such as the Regeneration Band, Local Motion 345, featuring Notch and a special appearance from Fab 5.

Fab 5, formed in 1970, is Jamaica's pre-eminent popular band, whether measured by record sales at home, hits on the charts, frequency of engagements or major awards won over the years.

Their first recording, "Come Back And Stay", was number one in Jamaica, and in their first year on the road, and for the following two years, they won the only available awards, the Swing Awards for best band of 1971-72, 1972-73 and 1973-74. They also took the El Suzie Award as Joint Top Road and Dance Band for 1975-76, as well as the RJR Listeners' Award for Best Band in 1980.

The band also backed Johnny Nash on all the artist’s reggae songs, comprising most of his platinum album "I Can See Clearly Now". Two singles from that album, "Guava Jelly" and "Stir It Up", established Bob Marley as a major songwriter on the international scene.

Fab 5 have enjoyed an endless succession of hits in Jamaica, the Caribbean, Central Americ and the "ethnic" markets of North America. In their early years such songs as "Chirpy Cheep", "Shaving Cream", "Oh, Dad" and "Love Me For A Reason", and their musicality and showmanship made Fab 5 the rage on the dance and show circuits.

FAB 5

Fab 5, formed in 1970, is Jamaica's pre eminent popular band, whether measured by record sales at home, hits on the charts, frequency of engagements or major awards won over the years.

Their first recording, "Come Back And Stay", was number one in Jamaica, and in their first year on the road, and for the following two years, they won the only available awards, the Swing Awards for best band of 1971 72, 1972 73 and 1973 74. They also took the El Suzie Award as Joint Top Road and Dance Band for 1975 76 and the RJR Listeners' Award for Best Band in 1980.

They backed Johnny Nash on all the reggae cuts comprising most of his platinum album "I Can See Clearly Now". Two singles from that album, "Guava Jelly" and "Stir It Up", established Bob Marley as a major songwriter on the international scene.

Fab 5 have enjoyed an endless succession of hits in Jamaica, the Caribbean, Central Americ and the "ethnic" markets of North America. In their early years such songs as "Chirpy Cheep", "Shaving Cream", "Oh, Dad" and "Love Me For A Reason", and their musicality and showmanship made Fab 5 the rage on the dance and show circuits.

Since then they have been kept on top by the likes of "Yu Safe", "Ring Road Jam", "Feeling Horny", Asking for Love”, "Computer Mad", "What The Police High Command Can Do", "Jamaican Woman", "Psalms", "All Night Party", "Mini", "Sweat", "Don't Wear None", "Freeze", "Good Buddy", "Mango" and their “Live” series.

Their twenty-eight albums and 1 box set have been as successful as their singles, and their multi award winning soca album "Yu Safe" was probably the most popular album produced in Jamaica in the decade of the '80s. A CD of some of their biggest hits "Fab 5 Greatest Hits" has been released along with five of their newest CD albums - "Good Buddy," the massively successful "Fab 5 Live - The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix ... Part 1" and the equally successful follow-ups “…Part 2”, “…Part 3”, “…Part 4” as well as the Box Set which includes all four discs. Their soca smash "Shape" is still very popular and the band’s versatility is proved by “Dugu-Dugu” their all-reggae release and the preceding all-ska album “Ska Time”. The late noted musician and journalist Sonny Bradshaw had said of Fab 5 that they are the only Jamaican band still playing authentic ska. The 2012 release from the band, a live tribute to Jamaica 50, “50 Years of Jamaican Music 1962-2012”, sold quickly and sold well. Their 2016 album “Face to Face”, featuring collaborations with top Jamaican and Caribbean artistes like Beres Hammond, Marcia Griffiths, Queen Ifrica and Richie Stephens is doing well on the download scene.

The busiest band in Jamaica, Fab 5 are in great demand not only for concerts and dances but also in the studio where they are leading creators of commercial jingles for radio and television, dominating the airwaves and earning a string of prestigious awards, including four golden microphones. They have their own recording studio (Stage Studio) and record label and distribution company (Stage Records). They have been the chosen band for almost every national and state occasion since the mid 1970s. In 2003 Fab 5 received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in The Performing Arts for its services to Jamaican music and in 2015 they were given an award for their contribution to Jamaican music by the Ministry of Culture. While their most recent national award was being named one of only 10 recipients of the Reggae Gold Honour award presented by the Ministry of Culture in a glittering March 2019 ceremony.