Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5553/-1/134/
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'Musical Genius' Releases 3 CD Albums
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Anguillian national, Alfred W. Gumbs, who began his musical career in the 1960s with a then primitive but popular band comprising keg drums, a bath pan for bass, maracas, a guitar and a microphone, is today a leading reggae song-writer, singer and musician with a positive message. In the early days he ventured into calypso as one of his art forms and was known as the “Mighty Condor”. His other associations included his religious singing group called “Alfred and the Alfredos.”
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Mr. Alfred W. Gumbs
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Al G, as Alfred is popularly known, left Anguilla for St. Thomas in 1976 where he continued to develop his musical skills to the extent that he has his own state-of-the-art recording studio and employs various musicians for back-up services.
On Friday, December 14, he released three new CDs at a press conference at the Anguilla Tourist Board. The albums are a mixture of gospel, roots and reggae and add to the number and high quality of his much-loved CDs which have been distributed world-wide in over 100 countries.
One of his latest albums is entitled Praise Him. It is a collection mainly of religious tunes which he produced between 1967 and 2005. The second CD is Lovers’ Rock which speaks to the heart. It opens with a song dedicated to his wife of 38 years and includes a ‘cut’ from his cousin Bankie Banx’s reggae song Duty Calls. The third CD, Roots, speaks to the changing times in Anguilla where youth discipline and society are severely challenged and there is a need to return to the basic values. Accordingly, this particular album has the running theme: “Who moved the ancient landmark?”
“My music is actually published world-wide in over 100 countries,” said Al G. When asked how he would describe himself, he said: ‘If I were someone else speaking about me, I would say Alfred is a genius.’ He made this further comment: “This little Anguillian boy has gone internationally with a very positive spiritual message and I am proud to be in Anguilla today seeing the people who I started with in the 1970s.”
One of the persons who influenced Al G was his late father, George (Judge) Gumbs, a local prophet, Church of God of Prophecy preacher and extraordinary drummer of his day.
“What I am today is because of him,” the grateful son stated. “His discipline and skill in playing the instrument propels me every day that I just have to be better. On the Praise Him album is a song my father loved and he never kept a service without it: Saviour Lead Me Lest I Stray. I recorded that on the album as a tribute to him.”
Another person who influenced Al G is Kark Pitterson, well known for his awarding winning reggae recordings. Al G’s just-released three CDs are in fact a collaborative arrangement between the two artistes.
The Anguillian singer and musician has established marketing arrangements with Ernie B’s Record Company, a major reggae music distributor in California, to handle his sales on the international market.
Al G has ensured that his CDs are available in Anguilla and has secured the marketing and sales services of Ijanhya Christian of Tripple Crown Culture Yard in The Valley as his local distributor and public relations spokesperson.