With a combination of old school and new school Bahamian artists, the Artist Pages on Island FM’s website seek to educate people about the traditional forms of Bahamian music as well as the new genres explored by the newer artists. Remember … it’s not just good music … it’s OUR music!

Born April 22, 1984 in Great Inagua, Wendell Avione Mortimer grew up in a musical family. With a father that played in local Inagua bands and uncles playing rake n scrape during the 60’s and 70’s, Avvy could not deny his passion for music. He began writing actively in 2005 and, with the support of his family and friends, produced his first hit single “Roach on my Bread”.  He credits his inspiration to the things he has noticed around him, relationships and family.

Playing instruments before the first grade, Avvy enjoyed the traditional Bahamian rushing and is trained in playing a variety of instruments including drums, recorder, bass horn and trombone.  Listening to different genres of music, he favors mostly the pop of Michael Jackson, the soulful feel of Otis Redding and the Reggae style of Sizzla Kalonji. The Bahamian artists he’s known to admire are: Dry Bread, Ronnie Butler, Eddie Minnis, Ira Storr, Geno D, Funky D and DMac. Since he began, Avvy has released two albums “The Best Kept Secret Volumes 1 & 2.”

Bodine, one of the female entertainers who is in the highest demanded in Nassau, is a force to be reckoned with.  In conjunction with BuffBoo Records as well as Frontline Productions, she is much more than a pretty face and voluptuous body. Bodine is the vision of what an entertainer is. The 2001 graduate of Kingsway Academy is a television host turned writer, radio host and singer and she is always exploring all other avenues of entertainment and creativity. Among her many accomplishments were winning the Bahamas @ Sunrise Battle competition in 2004 where she, under the name J83Blaze, beat out all the male competitors making her the Freestyle Champion, being hired by Charles and Eddie Carter in 2004 and by 2006 landing herself a full time gig as a dj on Rhapsody.  Today, she still has her very own radio show on ISLAND FM called “Fame Friday’s” (airing every Friday from 7 – 10 p.m.).

In 2005 she began to write articles for the Nassau Guardian highlighting relationships, cultural commentary and entertainment. That same year she graduated from the College of the Bahamas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education. In 2007, she was promoted by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture and soon began to script, direct, co-produce and host News in Education for the Bahamas Learning Channel. In addition to her promotion, she also serves as a Youth Diplomat for the Bahamas to places like Guyana and the British Virgin Islands. In 2003 Bodine also spoke to the Commonwealth Ministers of Education at the 15^th CCEM in Scotland to discuss primary education.

Cello is inspired by the work of the Four Tops, The Temptations, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes and Marvin Gaye.

Music has been in Cello’s heart since he was a child, when he and his family sang together in church. Surrounded by musicians, a veteran of talent shows, theater and vocal quartets, Cello was discovered at a musical competition in Nassau by the Bahamian group Coda. Now, many years later, Cello is a solo artist in his own right, singing, writing songs, playing keyboards and producing.

When Coda disbanded in the late 1990’s, Cello returned to Nassau, where he launched a recording studio, producing albums for major Nassau recording artists. After a lot of hard work (and a little bit of luck), Cello hooked up with a Detroit film crew filming a Bahamian sit-com. Cello came on board as the Music Supervisor and wound up landing the title role in the series. In 2001, he followed another film crew to Detroit, where he connected with the local music scene there. His latest film, in which he plays a lead character, is The Ultimate, an indie release due out in 2004.

Formed in 1985, Stewart, Chang Imlach, Dannard Anderson and Jammie Cartwright are unofficial Bahamian ambassadors. The group entertained almost 80,000 football fans in 2004 at a Dolphins’ half-time show and had a full week of television appearances and prime time radio interviews in Miami leading up to this event.   The Courage band has been described as the producers of “Urban Island” music, meshing rhythm and blues with pop rock, salsa, Hip Hop, Junkanoo, Soca, and reggae to create a sound unique only to them.  They have worked with artists such as Beres Hammond, Ed Lover & Dr. Dre, as well as Bahamian artists like Ronnie Butler, Count Bernardino and Freddie Munnings Sr. 

In 1959 Duke formed his own band “Errol Strachan Quintet” later renamed “Duke Errol and the Lords,” consisting of Washington Collie, Fletch Ferguson, John Gibson (brother of King Eric) and Fernandez from Trinidad, who played bass and steel drum. The Duke is credited with forming The National Youth Orchestra and training musicians such as Nigel Clarke, James Percentie, Lynden Sand, Lenny Moore Anthony Ritchie and much more.

 

 

  

This was the beginning of his illustrious career in music. He then did regular stints at clubs like the Zanzibar, Spider Web and the Silver Slipper. Freddie later enrolled in Trinity College of London to study music formally.  In 1949, he became one of the founding members of the Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union to promote the interests of other Bahamian musicians and entertainers.

Freddie Munnings Jr.

Freddie Munnings Jr. was born February 2, 1949 to musical genius Freddie Munnings Sr. and mother Mavis Corine Farrington, and destined to follow in the footsteps of his father into the world of music. He received his education at Aquinas College in Nassau where he studied music with Andrew Curry, then ventured to Florida where he continued his higher education at Florida Memorial College, majoring in business, as well as Barry University where he enrolled in a post graduate program. During these years he took part in several professional groups such as the Youth Foreman Playhouse & the Professional Theatre for Actors.

Passionate about his music, he first performed at the Miami Beach Circuit in 1971 in Miami Beach, Florida. He also performed at several International Hotels and Resorts on Paradise Island during the 1970’s. With the inspiration of his father and brother, Freddie Munnings Sr & Raphael Munnings, as well as fellow Bahamian musical legends like Wendell Stuart and Tony “Obeah Man” McKay, he went on to produce  two albums, “All the Best Things” and “Dreamer Man” .

In his most recent projects, he, along with Peter Bates formed “Sunflower Organization” which was originally a tribute to Bates’ daughter who was lost to cancer. This organization helps with persons who are in crisis and have lost a loved one due to illness. Freddie has also become a judge for the Bahamian Junkanoo parade which is well known and coordinated a summer parade called Junkanoo in June. His awards include: The Junior Achievement Appreciation Award for Artist of the year, Best Male Vocalist in 1997 and Aquinas College Lifetime Achievement for Alumni Award. Freddie also received a Rotarian of the Year Award for the years 1995 -1996 and the Timothy Award for song of the year.