Music of Guyana

The music of Guyana encompases a range of musical styles and genres that draw from various influences including: Indian, Spanish, African, and Amerindian music. Popular Guyanese performers include: Terry Gajraj, Harry Panday, Eddy Grant, Dave Martins & the Tradewinds (Johnny Braff, Ivor Lynch & Sammy Baksh), Aubrey Cummings and Nicky Porter, Shameer Rahman and Trinidadian chutney singer Ravi Bissambhar.

The Guyana Music Festival has proven to be influential on the Guyana music scene.

A number of popular Guyanese dance bands, including: BG Musicians Band, Harry Banks Orchestra, Al Seales & His Washboard Swing Orchestra, Bert Rogers & His Aristocrats Dance Orchestra, and Mr. Gouveia's Orchestra formed in the early 20th century. By the 1960s, these large bands, with their prominent horns and woodwinds, had become less popular than the newer string bands, which included: Jet Stars, The Oracles, The Rockets, Bumble & the Saints, Sid & the Slickers, Bing Serrao & the Ramblers, Combo 7, Rhythmaires, Dominators, Curtis MG's, Rudy & the Roosters, Yoruba Singers, Little Jones, Mischievous Guys, Cannonballs, and The Telstars.

The Rockets, led by Michael Bacchus and lead singer Johnny Braff, along with Bumble & the Saints, led by Colin Wharton, were perhaps the most influential groups in this shift. By the end of the decade, new instruments such as box guitars (introduced by Bing Serrao & the Ramblers) had taken over, while heavy guitar work by the Rhythmaires and Combo 7's complex drum solos proved influential.

Other bands of the 1960s and 1970s were: The Jetstars, Cannonballs, Curtis MG's, Dominators, Little Jones, Mischievous Guys, Rhythmaires, Rudy and the Roosters, Sid and the Slickers, Telstars, and the Yoruba Singers.

The 1980s - 1990's saw a new wave of Guyanese artists living in the United States who had established themselves both in Guyana and abroad: Ebanie aka KASEY - his first single "Heavyload" released in 1985; "Kool Lover" featuring Kasey & Floydie Ranks, another Guyanese artist, released in 1995; Floydie Ranks "Super Fresh" released in 1992; and Papa Elijah "Must Catch A Thing" & "Wine & Caress" released 1984.

...
Wikipedia