I made a startling discovery late last month while Barbadians were soaking up the Naniki Caribbean Jazz Safari.
Honoured on the first night of the six-day event was 88-year-old legendary American jazz drummer and band leader Roy Haynes. And guess what I found out about him?
His parents were born right here in Barbados and lived in St John. Of course, jazz fans here knew of Roy and his music but I’ve learnt that not many knew of his direct Bajan heritage.
Roy is the third son of Edna and Gustavus Haynes who were married at the Mount Tabor Moravian Church in 1916 and moved to the United States within the next few years.
But not before Roy’s big brother Douglas was born in 1917. Douglas is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, but was also a great musical influence on Roy who was born in Boston in March 1925.
For those of you who don’t know, Roy’s is an international legacy spanning a career of over 70 years.
He is known for his tight, crisp original sound on the drums ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz. Snap Crackle was his nickname.
It’s the family’s “good stock”, insisted the legend’s mother Edna.
Good old Bajan “stock” it seems, helped to create Roy’s award-winning talent. It earned him numerous honorary doctorates and awards including two Grammys and a 2011 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Not to be left out, Edna and Gustavus’ second son C. Vincent Haynes, born in Boston in 1921, was a founding member of the Boston Jazz Society.
Fourth son Rev. Dr Michael E. Haynes, born in 1927 is a former congressman; retired minister of the well-known 12th Baptist Church in Boston and worked with Martin Luther King.
But, Roy, it seems is the most famous internationally in the family. And he’s had a keen interest in jazz ever since he could remember.
Of his rare talent he once said: “I am constantly practicing in my head. In fact, a teacher in school once sent me to the principal, because I was drumming with my hands on the desk in class. My father used to say I was just nervous. I’m always thinking rhythms, drums.”
The self-taught musician admits that listening to jazz professionals helped to develop his unique expressive technique. And as such, he has shared the stage with some of the greats including Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughan.
To top it off Esquire magazine named Roy one of the Best Dressed Men In America in 1960, along with Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and Cary Grant.
Mum Edna would be proud as the “good stock” continues to produce great musicians. Roy has three musically inclined children – Craig a drummer, Graham a cornetist and Leslie. His grandson Marcus Gilmore has also become a talented young drummer.
I was fortunate to meet and talk with Craig and enjoy his intense performance on drums at the Jazz Safari when he came to Barbados to accept his father’s award. Craig was described as a legend of a legend.
Barbados has got talent!
Roy still performs today. http://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=XRU-HKpVADo
