“Joyous Melodies” is the title of a new CD featuring Michael “Dumpa” Martin on the double tenor steel pan. The CD is a collection of gospel music of well known pieces and he is accompanied on the piano by Lennox Vanterpool.

Mr. Martin playing steelpan

The CD was recorded at Farm Recording Studio by Justin Richardson and manufactured by Melody Recording Studio in St Maarten. It was produced by Weber Taylor and Dumpa. Speaking of Mr and Mrs Taylor, Dumpa says that he is most grateful for their support over the years and in particular he thanks them for funding the production of this CD. He says they have been very good friends and supporters for many years.

Dumpa is well-known in Anguilla where he has lived for the past twenty years. He was born in Antigua and pays tribute to Pan Maker Vincent “Harmony King” Freeland from Antigua, who is his mentor and teacher and built all the steel pans for the schools here. He has been playing the steel pan for some 34 years and has become a very accomplished musician. Dumpa has been teaching the steel pan since 1992 and currently has about 70 pupils at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School and over 200 at the primary schools, for the Grade 5 and 6 pupils. In addition he has a private class with children as young as five years playing the pan.

CD cover - L-R: Dumpa Martin and Lennox Vanterpool

Nowadays Dumpa plays regularly at Altamer and Frangipani and is kept very busy with private engagements for weddings and other celebrations. He is dedicating this CD to his good friend Eric Saunders who died recently. Dumpa used to arrange Saunders music for many years. The CD will be on sale at the Anguilla Drug Store, the Craft Shop, Bartlett Collections, and many other stores from Friday December 15.

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