Gombey Festival Honouree, October 7, 2007
The Department of Culture salutes the Master Musicians of the Gombeys and in particular Henry Grother Wilson. Mr. Wilson was born in 1924 and from the very young age of 13 began to dance and play the drums with his brother Alfred Wilson. It was not long before Grother Wilson, as he is now familiarly known as and his brother Alfred (deceased), inherited the Gombey group they danced and played for – the Reginald “Shakey” Smith Troupe. Together with another drumming master, Sidney “Coco” Stevens, the Wilson Gombey group was born. Grother clearly recalls the instruction from Coco – “When I go centre; you go to the rim.”
Grother Wilson was quickly recognized as an excellent drummer and the then-owner and operator of Harmony Hall, Mr. Bill Tumbridge, invited the Wilson Gombeys to perform on a regular basis at the famed Gombey Room. From one major hotel establishment to another (and of course the performances in the street), Grother Wilson and his troupe skillfully promoted their craft. Invitations and engagements flooded in and soon Mr. Wilson was off to the prestigious Waldorf Astoria in New York City as well as receiving invitations from a multi-millionaire to perform at a private party in Philadelphia. For many years the group had the opportunity to perform at several hotels throughout Bermuda, Philadelphia and New York.
Henry Grother Wilson was a true ambassador for Bermuda and an exquisite master of his craft. Bermuda’s Gombey Troupes have benefitted greatly from the vibrant music of his Gombey drums – it is the sound that hits the soul and gets the feet moving.
The Department of Culture is honoured to salute Henry Grother Wilson, master par excellence and other master Gombey music makers affiliated with him – the late Mr. Elmore Barker, Mr. Allan Warner, Mr. Donnie Brown, and Mr. “Shorty” Maynard. Mr. Jose Herbert, Mr. Henry Knight, and Mr. Charles “Sonny” Darrell. May the irresistible rhythms of the Gombey Music never be silenced.
Note: Mr. Wilson passed in 2008.
