There was a time in Bermuda when hotel guests danced to the sound of live music. Advertisements of Royal Gazettes published in the 1930s, ’40s,’50s and ’60s show how the island’s hotels would feature bands and combos just about every night of the week. One such group was Ernie Leader’s Band which played all over the island from St.George’s to Sandys Parishes. Ernie, who died in March 1995, is still remembered for his musical accomplishments on drums and saxophone, for the excellence of his band and for his hard work and dedication which served as an example to other aspiring musicians. He was also known for the warm support he gave to the many musicians who learned from him. His daughter, Valerie Leader-Furbert, says Tootsie Bean, Shine Hayward, Ronald Tear, Orlando Smith are just a few of the musicians she remembers he taught. During the early 1970s, he was awarded the Queen’s Certificate by the Governor, Lord Martonmere, for his musical contributions to the community of Bermuda.
Ernest Christopher Leader was born in July 1910 in Devonshire. Later he would be called by his nickname “Jew” or by the shorter version of his Christian name, “Ernie”. His parents William and Georgette Leader were not musical but for some reason from an early age he had a passionate desire to play the drums. According to a short biography written about him by R. Scott which is included in Dale Butler’s Music on the Rock, “The fact he had none did not deter him. Instead, he spent his free minutes beating on a trunk with his heel. ‘I almost wore a hole in the trunk!’ he laughed. His persistence led to his being taught by Mr. Willie Smith, a well-known musician from St.George’s.”
By the time he was 16, Ernie became drummer for the Mark Williams Orchestra at the St. George’s Hotel (on the top of Rose Hill where St. George’s Club is now), an association that would last at least ten years. He told Mr Scott, “I take my hat off to Mark Williams. He was a wonderful musician and a very good teacher. I feel I owe it all to him.” Perhaps it was thanks to both teachers he was able to read music, a skill he was grateful to acquire since it meant he could play in every major hotel in Bermuda. His advice to aspiring musicians was always that they should learn to read music.
He constantly listened to American music and often travelled so that he could talk to the musicians and hear their playing. According to Valerie, his favourite groups were Lionel Hampton’s Band, Count Basie’s Band and Duke Ellington’s Band. He began to develop his own style when he joined The Ramblers when, as is explained in Music on the Rock, he played with Bill Furbert on trumpet, Winslow Fox on piano, and ‘Pot’ Gilbert who was saxophonist, band director and composer. Next, he formed his own “Ernie Leader’s Band”, switching instruments – from drums to saxophone because, Valerie says, the saxophone was more melodic and a lead instrument. His combo started at the Inverurie Hotel on Harbour Road, being featured there for six months. Then it branched out to take gigs at other hotels and clubs – including Sherwood Manor Hotel in the late 50’s. He also played at a very popular spot called ‘Chillies Patio’ in Warwick. During the summer months the combo grew to a 14- or 15-piece band playing the ballads played by American bands such as Nat King Cole’s. However, the song he played at nearly all of his performances was “Danny Boy”. Many other well-known Bermudian musicians played with his band, including Lance Hayward and Ron Lightbourne who has fond memories of his affable character. In addition to playing with his own band, Ernie also filled in with groups such as the Aldano Sextette, Sydney Bean’s Orchestra and Pot Gilbert’s Band. On several occasions in the 1970s he performed at Donald Smith’s Bermuda Dance in New York at the Savoy Hotel.
Like most professional musicians of the time, Ernie had to have a second job to survive so in addition to being a musician and band leader he also worked for A. S. Cooper’s. Ernie and his wife Edna (née Harvey) had seven children – Earl, Veronica, Erwin, Valerie, Diane, Denton and Kay, some of whom inherited his love of music. He taught Earl to play the drums while Erwin and Denton are self- taught. All three became and still are professional drummers. Shortly before Ernie retired, Valerie sang with the band when it performed at weddings and other functions. One ballad she remembers singing was “Watch What Happened.”
All his children recall he had an interest other than music. He was a great cook who never used a recipe book. He would make green pea soup from scratch and also his own rolls. His tuna fish sandwiches were particularly tasty, they remember, although they never found out his special recipe.
Valerie remembers her father as being a man of few words, who was known more for his actions, particularly for his mentoring of other musicians.
“As my brothers and sisters all agree, there was plenty of feeling in his playing – he didn’t need to say words. He put his love into his music and his family – he was a great father and we all benefitted from his music.”
