Melvin Newton's face is wearing a perpetual smile these days. Melvin just became father to a ten pound baby boy. Is he proud? Melvin plays a wonderful Tropical instrument called steel drums, or pans, and he's one of the best you'll ever hear.
Since pans are a solo instrument, he sequences drums and such on a Yamaha keyboard, which he also plays. Add a clear, beautiful, expressive voice and you have one of our island's best acts.
I saw Melvin at the Conch Farm (the Conch Republic Seafood Restaurant to you non- locals). When he was about to start, a huge boat directly behind him fired up engines that were roaring at no less than 110 decibels. Isn't that illegal?
It finally pulled out, and Melvin began singing, "I can, feel, I can feel, I can feel that connection, I want to go in your direction". This is easy reggae at its best. The crowd was loving the song and the sound.
Melvin explained that he does 90% original material. What I heard of them tell me he is headed for the charts. This man can write!
Melvin is a happy soul as well as talented. This is a delightful act in a delightful place on the water. "This is roots rock reggae", Melvin explains, "It will rock you no matter where you are".
Happy people illustrate the truth of this. Folks are swaying to the island beat and mood. A few are dancing, but most are just grooving on the wonderful sounds. His next song asks, "Do You Want Me the Way That I Want You?" If I were producing a major reggae act I'd jump on this one.
"It's the music of the rasta man", Melvin explains, "Let it rock you".
Fans kept dropping by to say hello. We were all easing down from a vigourous St. Patty's Day.
Melvin Newton has a seamless voice with a big range. His singing is so sincere, and those pans sound divine! We hear a poignant tune that says, "You've had enough; you're gonna quit". "Keep On Trying" until you find a way' is a song of encouragement that wil stay in your mind a long time. All of us need this kind of caring friend.
It couldn't fail to happen. Someone requested "Yellow Bird". Melvin graciously complied, singing it to a pan accompaniment which more than satisfied the person who asked for it. Melvin is gracious to a fault. Next he told us would be a calypso song with some pepper in it, written by the man who did "Hot, Hot, Hot". "I Love the Rum" is good and fun, but not up to Mr. Newton's songwriting standards. We hear a song about Bermuda, "tell me where you're from, tell me your name, girl; I'll show you my culture".
If you love the sound of the islands, give yourself a treat and go find Melvin. He plays at Papa's on Duval Street and the Conch Farm. You'll be so glad you did! Stay cool.