Reader Profile - Terry Arthur

When I first saw that we had a reader from Barbados, I was surprised as well as excited that the blogspot had actually been viewed by a reader that far. When I realized that the reader was of such prestidgeous musical royalty, I was estatic. Well, I'll let his profile speak for itself. Readers, our very first reader profile, the talented and accomplished, Mr. Terry Arthur:

TERRY “MEXICAN” ARTHUR is a 41 year old musician, producer and songwriter from the island of BARBADOS. He started playing music professionally at the tender age of nine in a community steel band from his home town of Britton’s Hill; St. Michael called the HARMONITES STEEL BAND. After leaving The Lodge School where he continued to hone his musical skills, Terry worked on the cruise ships as a professional musician, playing steel pan, keyboards and percussion. After seven years on the high seas, Terry returned to Barbados and joined a young local band called SQUARE ONE.
TERRY quickly became the main songwriter, producer and musical director for the band, writing all their main hits for ALISON HINDS including RAGGAMUFFIN, which won the ROAD MARCH-the first of any female in Barbados. His writing signature can be found on some of SQUARE One’s biggest hits including IRON BAZODEE, DJ RIDE, AYE, AYE, AYE and LADIES RULE. Terry’s writing and producing credits extend beyond the success of SQUARE ONE to include hits for some of the biggest acts in the soca world, such as EDWIN YEARWOOD, MACHEL MONTANO, RUPEE, LIL RICK, GRYNNER and PATRICE ROBERTS. He has also been involved in more than 15 Road March songs around the world, including JUMP for RUPEE. While he continues to write, arrange and produce songs for the biggest stars in the soca arena, he can also be found playing jazz with acclaimed saxophonist ARTURO TAPPIN and some of the best musicians in the island.
TERRY’S extensive touring schedule has included EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, and virtually the entire CARIBBEAN. He has now turned his focus to his own projects, and to date TERRY has two steel pan cd’s: STEEL PAN IN PARADISE and A GIFT FROM BARBADOS. TERRY credits EDDY GRANT, ARTURO TAPPIN, NICHOLAS BRANCKER, RICKY BRATHWAITE, GABBY, GRYNNER, RED PLASTIC BAG and MAC FINGALL as his biggest influences. TERRY has received the CORNER STONE AWARD from the BARBADOS MUSIC AWARDS for his contribution to music in Barbados, and he and the band SQUARE ONE will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

To see the steel drum master in his element, click here: http://www.youtube.=om/watch?v=I86m5O5c5QE