By NORMAN ROLLE In 1943 the world was at war - World War II - the war U.S. president Woodrow Wilson promised to "end all wars. "
The sound of guns and bombs were reverberating in most parts of the
globe, while in The Bahamas it was all serene and quiet - perhaps the
loudest sound came from the beat on a tin tub in Bain Town by
11-year-old Errol Strachan. That was the date and the circumstance
under which the music career of one of The Bahamas' most accomplished musician began. Although he started practicing with various instruments from the early 1940s, it was over a decade later that he took music seriously. First cousin of King Eric Gibson, his knack for music is understandable, but music was not a gift to his 12 brothers and sisters, as it is with most of the Gibson boys. "None of them got into music," Duke says. His music
career got started following various twists and turns, as he remained
obedient to his mother who wanted him "to learn a trade. " Born in
Acklins, but left there while still a baby, Duke, as a youngster, got
into many things. First he went to tailoring doing stints under the
late Arthur Lunn, S.C. McPherson and a Mr. Wallace Tailoring on Nassau
Street. "I didn't like tailoring and so I went to learn
carpentry under Eddie Dillett, Hawkins Hill, and then I went to
mechanic trade under Willie Cooper who had a mechanic shop on
Farrington Road. " With pride and a smile, he enjoins: "That's why I
can now do so many things for myself. " "The Duke", as he is
sometimes referred to was a tailor, a mechanic, a carpenter, a taxi
driver, but none of these brought him fame or real satisfaction. The
profession that he was destined to enter -- and somewhat reluctantly --
music and entertainment is what made Duke Errol the hottest musical commodity among the locals as well as the bulging tourist market in the 1950s and onward. While
a taxi driver in 1951, Duke recalls that he used to stop by and do one
or two numbers at the Zanzibar, the Silver Slipper or the Cat and
Fiddle. "Freddie Munnings would always put me on... he never turn me
down. " "In 1954 king Eric and I formed a band on his porch in
Kemp Road and we played at the Blue Rest, also on Kemp Road. We stayed
there for a while, working from the door. " [no salary, except what was
made from admissions] Later King Eric went to Gills on Shirley Street
where I sang occasionally. "In 1955 I went to do an audition in
Miami on invitation from an American who heard me sing. " At that time
the craze was calypso, but I didn't know any calypso songs. I did "Blue
Moon " and "I Love You for a Sentimental Reason. " According to
Duke, that audition did not come off well, because the agent was
searching for calypso, but "I was a ballad singer. " That Miami
audition experience was an eye-opener for Duke who shortly afterwards
began learning the lyrics of calypsos as Harry Belafonte, at the time,
had popularized calypso, creating a huge demand for it in the U.S. and
Europe. Duke then decided to make calypso the main course on his
entertainment menu that would propel his career like no other in The
Bahamas a few years later and keep him on top as an entertainer.
"I joined King Eric at Captain Kidd, located where the Olympia Hotel is
now situated. At the time, I was still driving taxi and King Eric would
came for me at the taxi stand, this time saying that his vocalist,
Donald Butler, had quit - he wanted me to join him full time. Ronnie
Butler at the time was the [goat skin] drummer, Everette Henfield, on
bass and King Eric on guitar. "I recall singing "Island In the Sun " and "Yellow Bird " which were instant crowd pleasers. The
1958 general strike put a hold on everything in the country for about
three weeks and when it was over, King Eric's band did not return to
Captain Kidd. Says Duke: "Frankie Adams, who was a shoeshine boy at the
airport and a Mickey, joined the band. I was still pitching in as a
vocalist. " In 1959, Duke finally broke out. He formed his own
band - "The Errol Strachan Quintet, " later renamed "Duke Errol and the
Lords, " consisting initially of Washington Collie, Fletch Ferguson,
John Gibson (brother of King Eric), Fernandez from Trinidad, who played
the bass and steel drum. "We got our first job at Dirty Dicks, where we stayed until it closed down in 1960.
"I then did only gigs from time to time at the Montagu Hotel at
parties. I then convinced my good friend, taxi driver Charlie Dean -
who was always beating on his car to join the group as a drummer. I
told him, you have natural rhythms - you should learn the drum."
"Around 1962, King Eric quit the Bama and my group took over... and
stayed for one year... we went to the Emerald Beach where we stayed for
a year, before taking a job at the British Colonial Hotel where we
stayed for almost 10 years. At the time the band consisted of Roy
Munnings, Charles Dean and Fred Henfield and I. " It was at the
British Colonial that the band became a hit with Bahamians and tourists
-- for six nights per week, attracting a full house. As much as
he was "self-taught " all of the instruments he played, Duke, wanting
to get a "better knowledge and understanding of music, " studied music theory under Eric Cash, going as far as grade four. In 1968 he started Edem's Music Store and a year later Edem's Music School. Both are still open, next door to his residence on Soldier Road. Duke is credited with training hundreds of musicians;
notable among them are: Nigel Clarke, assistant supt. in the police
band and professionals, James Percentie and Lynden Sands, Lenny Moore,
Anthony Ritchie, Timmy Joseph, Kevin Dean, Shamond Smith, Frankie
Hanna, James Hutchinson, Andrew Richardson, Lamont Gibson and Dion
Turnquest. Also to his credit is the formation of the Bahamas
National Youth Orchestra, an off-shoot of the National Youth Choir,
formed in 1990 on the occasion of the Bahamas Quin-centennial
celebrations. During the course of his music
career, Duke has recorded five albums, most, of them his signature
calypso repertoire, including "Bahama Lulaby " and "Island in the Sun. " His last assignment has been conductor of le Cabaret Orchestra from 1979 to 1990. He and Dorothea were married in 1955. They have three children- Ernest, Mala and Lavado. None of them, Duke says, has chosen music
as a career. He is the son of Lilian Taylor nee Ferguson from Eight
Mile Rock, Grand Bahama and James Shadrack Strachan from Acklins. An athlete, Duke played forward for the Cee Bees basketball team in the 1950s. He also played softball and baseball. Now
retired, except for his involvement with the National Youth Orchestra
and a little gardening at his impressive spread on Soldier Road - but
according to him, he has had a full life - has enjoyed all 71 years of
it. Posted: Thursday February 5, 2004
© 2003 The Nassau Guardian
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