For years "Flash" has entertained customers at Pedro's Beach Restaurant on Orient Beach and at Turtle Pier restaurant with his lively pan (steel drum) music. We didn't see him at Pedro's on our recent vacation and stopped at Turtle Pier to learn if he was still playing at that restaurant on Wednesday nights. We were told that Flash (sorry I don't know his real name) isn't playing music any more because he is terminally ill. That was very sad news.
I also learned that Tanny and the Boys, an old style string band type group now plays at Turtle Pier. We had often tried to see this group but hadn't been able to in the past. They were worth the wait. We enjoyed them a lot.
On May 1st, Labor Day on the island, we went to the 3rd annual Fish Day on French St. Martin at the cul de sac, where the ferries leave to go to Pinel Island. The event featured food booths, boat rides and fishing contests for kids, and lots of music on stage. There we saw another string band, The Rhythm Boys. It was a fun afternoon in the sun.
Later a pan group played and then Control took the stage, a popular band on the island. They and other groups were on sound trucks singing and playing their way to Front Street during the Grand Parade on April 20th, always a highlight of Carnaval!
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