Coming to Negril, Seastar and such!

[Robinbanks]

I suppose I should fill folks in as to who I am and my ties with this board, Negril and the music scene in Jamaica. I see there are a lot of new people to the board, Negril and to the island, so I welcome you!!

I am an international recording artist, vocalist, band leader, song writer originally from Canada but I also built a career for myself in Texas. I specialize in Jazz and Blues performance and have several commercially recorded CDs out.

I had been coming to Negril as a tourist since about 1988. I remember when this site was called Bengees Negril and I used the site to book my vacations in Negril back in the day. I knew the first time I swam in that beautiful Negril water and walked that beach that one day I would try to bring my musical career to Jamaica. I have been involved with Jamaican people and culture since 1984 and I love Reggae music as much as Jazz and Blues and Soul and R&B. It was a natural transition for me...

Just like how I went to TX to learn Jazz and Blues from those artists that helped to make the music sound the way it does, in late 2005 I moved to Negril Jamaica to learn Reggae from those artists that made Reggae music evolve the way it did. I lived on the island for about 3 years and independently built a career performing in the all inclusives on the north shore as well as smaller hotels in Negril. In fact Chris built the first concrete stage at Seastar for my first performance there. Because of my professional, authentic style, I made a name for myself performing in Kingston at Christopher's Jazz Cafe and Redbone's, two of the cities most affluent and attended venues. Eventually I would move from Negril to Kingston to work for a music company and book the entertainment at these and other clubs as well as mentor some students from the art college. I was also asked to perform at the celebrated Jamaica Jazz and Blues festival on two occasions in 2007 and in 2010.

Even though I no longer live on the island, about 1/4 of my career is still spent in Negril. I have a long and lovely history with web guru Rob Graves as well as Chris and Francine at Seastar and also The Grizzle family at the Charela Inn and also the finest AI on the island, Couples Swept Away. I have made life long friends in Negril and I am involved with social awareness about social issues that trouble the island as well as fundraising projects to support the soup kitchen and the bus that brings kids to school. So I really am a thread in the fabric that is Negril Jamaica, a part of the scene musically and socially, a fixture if you will... and I do hope that I continue to do so and make new friends along the way.

HOLLA!



Robin