focusinterview.
REGGIE D - THE B BLOOZERS LLO OO OZ ZEER RS
Popular local Reggie D and his band THE BLOOZERS are celebrating 20 years this month. The man himself tell us more.
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ongratulations on 20 years of the Bloozers! How did you first get started? I’ve always been around music from a young age and had this dream to maybe become a performer. Along the way I was never shy to get up and belt out a few songs when an opportunity appeared. Because I grew up in the West Indies, I was more than likely to sing or play Calypsos. In my mind, especially after arriving in Port Macquarie in 1986 and working at The Sand Castle, where a great part of my customers were retired, it become clear that I would find things to do that I don’t have to retire from. Music was one of those things. My first official gig was at the RSL club, before it became Panthers. You have played a lot of gigs over the years. What are some of the more memorable ones? The need to play a lot of gigs has slowed down, but yes ... there have been times that I’ve done seven gigs in a week. The more memorable ones are the early days when we first started as Reggie ‘D’ and the Bloozers, and with the help of guitarist
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greater port macquarie focus.
Adrian Kimmorley there was no stopping us. The most memorable two gigs were when Adrian and I performed at the Star Hotel in Wauchope. We played all night with only two people in the audience. In my opinion, it was the best fun I had. And the other gig was when I was asked to be a busker at one of the crazy day sales in the streets of Port. It confirmed that I was going to busk more often. That first time I made about $70 in my guitar case, and when the presentation for Mid North Coast Busker of the Year was announced, I received a cheque for $150 as the winner. Not bad for a few hours' work 20 years ago. Tell us about the current band and who is featuring? A present there are five in the band; but that could change at the drop of a hat. We’ve got George Yonan on drums, Garry Kealey on bass, Bernie Schwartz on lead guitar, Phill Moore (Phill Harmonic) on the harmonica, and myself on vocals and rhythm guitar. Chris Trotman on the saxophone has played with us many times when Phill was not available. There have been many times where all six of us play the gig. You’ll be having a party, we hear, this
month. Tell us about that! that I find in Calypso. 'Keep it simple' is When you mention the 'party', it’s my motto and is also one of my favourite something we have everytime we perform. tunes. What we’re going to do is get back after a Where can we see you play regularly? short winter break and hopefully The first Sunday of the month try and get a few of the started about 20 years many musicians who ago. It’s like going to have played and church and catch-up jammed with us with Reverend Reg. st The fir e th of ay over the years to I do want to thank nd Su t ou ab d te ar show up at our the amazing local st month ’s It o. ag s ar first Sunday of crowd that seem ye 20 ch the month gig to always show like going to chur ith and catch-up w at Finnian’s Irish up. Although we Reverend Reg.” Tavern on Sunday perform on the 3 November, from first Sunday of the 2pm. How many will Month at Finnian’s, for show up I don’t know, December we’ll do the but it seems that every time second Sunday. we play at Finnian’s we get guest We do sometimes perform at artists up, and some of them are 'world other venues, but you’ll have to keep class'. your eyes and ears open. For those who don’t know The On behalf of Reggie ‘D’ and the Bloozers, Bloozers, what kind of music do you we’d like to thank everybody who has play? made us what we are today and look Reggie ‘D’ and the Bloozers play a range forward to seeing you at our 20th Birthday of music, but we try to stick to Blues. I, for to get together at Finnian’s on Sunday 3 one, love the simplicity and the stories of November. the Blues. They have a lot of similar feelings Thanks Reggie.
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