Roger
started his musical journey at the age of fourteen in Barbados as
lead singer and guitarist with the island’s first popular
boy band
The Merryboys. The teen quartet recorded a hit album and toured
to Trinidad, Jamaica and Martinique, sharing the stage with top
Caribbean acts, including Johnny Nash, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires,
Tomorrow’s Children, and the legendary Merrymen (whose bass
player was older brother Chris).
Out of high school and looking for new musical challenges, he joined
his other musician brother John in one of the region’s leading
dance bands The Sandpebbles as lead singer / keyboardist / arranger.
The group cut several hit singles and 3 albums, touring the Caribbean,
U.S.A. and Canada, with a memorable week at the famed Apollo Theatre
in N.Y.C.
Roger studied music theory thru the Associated Boards of the Royal
Schools of Music (U.K.) to the Licentiate level and while on the
road researched the traditional music of the Eastern Caribbean.
The Pebble's innovative guitar and keyboard-driven style of calypso
made them a huge hit on tours to Trinidad and on the club circuit
in Barbados.
After leaving the Sandpebbles, Roger spent several years pursuing
goals in cultural development in Barbados, and arranging for composer
Sach Moore (Best of Barbados vol 1 & 2) featuring many of the
island’s top entertainers such as Gabby, Vern ‘del Congo’
Best, Mark Lord, Richard Stoute, Carolyn Leacock, and Tony Grazettes.
He spent 3 years working as a Cultural Affairs Officer, co-producing
Carifesta 1981 and notably contributing to the rebirth of Barbados’
vibrant calypso scene.
In 1986 Roger made Canada his home and has continued to follow
his musical dreams both as an artist and arts administrator. He
has been a performing member of COBA (Collective of Black Artists)
and is featured on their 1999 CD ‘Danse Bele - The Tradition
Lives On’, and has worked with a variety of artists such as
Ugandan lokembe master Achilla Orru, Canadian fiddler Anne
Lederman,
producer/guitarist Tom Graham, and singer/musician Franc
Mosbaugh.
He was Artistic Director of Worlds
of Music Toronto (1998-2000)
and has been active in the Caribbean community as Musical Director
of Banja (30-member folk choir) and various Toronto-based calypso
productions.
In 2000 he released his critically-praised first solo CD ‘Spirit
of Calypso’, a mix of Caribbean Acoustic original and traditional
songs. His current instrumental CD ‘Calypso Classics on Guitar
- Vol 1’ is a tribute to great calypso composers Kitchener
and Sparrow and features their calypso hits of the 60s and 70s arranged
for classical guitar.
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