Guyanese Online

MUSICAL CAREERS by Dave Martins  – Credits Stabroek News.

Dave Martins

Sometimes a pleasant surprise lands on your doorstep regarding someone else’s doings that connects strongly with you as it triggers memories in your own life or your own search. Recently, out of the blue, I received a CD done by a young Guyanese performer, Juke Ross, who has recorded a cover version of my song “Not A Blade Of Grass”. Produced here in Guyana, I was intrigued by the recording on two levels: first, because, although it was a different approach from the one I used with Tradewinds Juke had managed to capture the essential heart of the song as a straightforward paean to Guyanese feelings about country.

Without ever feeling me out about my intentions or how the song originated, he had clearly captured the same ingredient that was in the original recording. Although we have since communicated by email, I haven’t spoken to Jude and while I don’t know much about him, including his age, my sense is that he is a fairly young man starting out on a musical career, and I was impressed at the sensitivity level he was showing.   Continue reading →