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David Lloyd Henry at Bearwood Corks Club - Thursday 18th June - Showtime 9.00pm

David will be playing at Andy Hamilton's Jazz Club at Bearwood Corks Social Club in Bearwood Road. He will be joined by vocalist Donna Sterling (ex-Steel Pulse, pictured with David below), Tim Amann (keys), Sam Roigers (sax) Fitzroy Coward (bass) and Wayne Scott (drums).

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Biography

DAVID LLOYD HENRY The life and career of a remarkable Guitarist
Known to his fans and friends as Gabby, David is a fabulously talented Guitarist with a unique style born out of Jazz, Reggae and other influences. Hailing from Jamaica he currently lives, studies and works in Birmingham, UK, where he has his own band, The Flat Five, as well as playing with some of the regions best musicians including Soweto Kinch, Macka B, Andy Hamilton and Alvin Davis. On the hotel circuit back in Jamaica he worked with some of the big names of popular music, including Jimmy Cliff, Rita Marley, Diana King, Wyclef Jean, and even the Isley Brothers while they were on vacation at the Sandals resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Born in Spanish town St. Catherine, Jamaica, Gabby was brought up by his aunt from the tender age of six months after his mother migrated to England in the mid sixties. Growing up as a young man in a urban environment wasn’t easy. In an interview Gabby said “there were so many options that confronted me as a young man, but my choice was to become a musician so I chose to play an instrument. With no regret I chose the guitar. Playing the guitar is like praying to Jah the creator who inspired me and blessed me with such a great talent. When playing my guitar I attack it both physically and spiritually.”
Gabby is from a spiritual background playing in church with a harmonica given to him by his grandmother Mrs. Annie Fagan who bought it for him as a gift. The harmonica was the birth of his career and gave him the desire and inspiration to make music, while still seeking his instrument of choice. This turned out to be the Guitar, and his passion for it has grown over the years. His musical skill comes through the time he has devoted to practice and a desire to achieve the goal he’s working towards ever since he first began to play.
Gabby is a pass student of Crescent All Age School in Spanish Town. Upon leaving he attend the Grantham College and Tivoli Garden Comprehensive high school in Kingston Jamaica. Here Gabby was also a sportsman who played cricket and table tennis at club and school level. He played in the Jackie Hendricks Cup and his first competitive game was with singer Eka Mouse for Grantham College. He also played in the Sunlight Cup for Tivoli Garden Comprehensive, but his love for music always shone through. As he said in an interview, “music to me was my number one choice”. During this period he played Side-Drum for the St. James cathedral Drum Corps in Spanish Town. This gave him the knowledge to understand the rhythmic patterns of different styles of music.
In Jamaica it was very hard to come by an instrument and Gabby couldn’t afford to buy a guitar of his own so he had to borrow from a school friend who’s parents could afford one. Gabby deeply regrets leaving and taking the instrument with him without consulting his friend, but it was a move that started him on the journey towards his eventual career. “Sometimes in life out of bad comes good but not always it depends on the circumstances you are in. Playing the guitar took me in a different direction, a more positive way; so the instrument I borrowed off my friend has had a great impact on my life. Jah bless him always. I experienced a lot of things while growing up. Many of my friends were trapped because their judgment of choosing right or wrong was inaccurate. Some chose the wrong direction but that is life. There are two roads to choose + & - so the choice is yours to pick”.
As a self-taught musician at that time it wasn’t easy. Studying in his Grandmother’s back garden for a year he excelled rapidly thanks to sheer determination and help from Jah. After accomplishing what he set out to do he decided to return the Guitar to his friend who was both surprised and angry. However when he saw how Gabby had improved he asked Gabby to share his knowledge with him. Gabby was only too happy to oblige, saying “If it wasn’t for him I would be on the wrong track today.”
His first serious gig was in Ocho Rios on the north coast of Jamaica. The first hotel band he played in was in the Jamaica Hilton. The resident band at the time was the Wright Brothers band from Spanish Town. Bandleader Johnny Wright saw Gabby playing with his mates and employed him in spite of his inexperience. He spotted the potential from which Gabby went on to develop a career as a gifted guitar player.
“Playing the hotel circle in Jamaica was a challenge but in the long term it was worth it because it forces you become an a accomplished musician and takes you to another level. You open your mind to lot of things musically through the experience you gain playing all types of music with a wide variety of artists. I played in lots of hotels on the north coast, including Sandals, Breezes, Grand Lido and many others. Working in the tourist industry I met and jammed with a lot of big names from overseas including Wyclef Jean, The Isley Brothers and others. I gained much of my confidence playing with established entertainers. However I still realised I needed to go to the next level so I decided to get a tutor.”
He took private lessons with Lenny Hilbert, one of Jamaica’s great Vibraphone players. Hilbert was a incredible teacher who taught Jazz Improvisation. At the time Gabby was a member of the Sharp Park Hotel resident band playing jazz standards. The bandleader was Sparrow Martin an established jazz Drummer and Trumpeter who taught at the legendary Alpha Boys School, the alma mater of many great Jamaican musicians including the Skatalites, and he too taught Gabby during his time with his band.
In Jamaica Gabby played with the local artists who performed in the hotels. People like Ken Booth, Tanya Stevenson, Ritchie Stevenson, Luke D, Bengy Myers, Ernie Smith, Ernest Wilson, Ruddy Thomas, Pam Hall, Carlene Davis and countless others. He affiliated himself with a lot of great artists in Jamaica; big names like Jimmy Cliff, Rita Marley and Diana King with whom he had great opportunity to play for two years on the hotel circuit. He also did a lot of studio session work.
He then decided to try something new in the music arena and went off to play on the cruise liners with the Carnival Cruise Line for five years, playing with a guy called Prince who is now the Drummer for Buju Banton. “It was a different experience but enjoyable”.
After that he returned to the hotel circuit. “Playing on the north coast for a while, but the aim was to generate my energy in Kingston, where I could get known on the Reggae circuit, so I could get the opportunity to tour. Kingston is the Manhattan of Jamaica in the music arena” so he knew that to make it there would instantly raise his status in the music business. His main inspiration in the business was Earl China Smith. On days off from hotel Gabby would make the journey to his home to visit him in Halfway Tree every Tuesday every week; to hang out and jam for hours with China “inna de yard” the name he called his jam spot and his label.
Gabby gained so much inspiration and knowledge simply from being around such a great Guitarist. “We played constantly together and shared our knowledge, jamming with the instrument we devoted ourselves to. The person who introduced me to China is another guitar great named Bo Peep who played with the 809 Band with Lloyd Parks and Luciana. These connections started to enhance my status in town and from there I formed a band named Victory with some of my co-workers from the hotel circuit. We went to Kingston on our days off to rehearse and get recognition”.
Gabby was introduced to Bridget Anderson, manager of Garnet Silk, Jah Mel, Jah Marley and Fredlocks. He sent her an invitation to attend a rehearsal and to hear the band. As a result they became Fredlocks backing band for a while, before moving on to back Garnet Silk's younger brother, Aaron Silk, and tour the US and Europe. Gabby still holds the band name Victory.
Gabby’s next move was to come to Europe to study Music Technology. Here he put together his own Jazz Band, David Henry and The Flat Five, whist still affiliating himself to some of the best musicians in Birmingham. He’s toured Europe and Latin America with Macka B and The Royal Roots Band and worked with the Reggae Revolution Band. Producer Dickey is a good friend as is guitarist Chocho. He’s played with Jazz legend Andy Hamilton and The Blue Notes at the Symphony Hall and Bearwood Corks Club. He’s performed at the Yardbird Jazz Club jam night in Birmingham with various artists including Peter Reed, Peter Daley, Soweto Kinch and Alvin Davis. He’s also played with the Andy Gayle Quartet at the Twin Towers in Ladywood and the Lord Clifton in Hockley.
Gabby is a father of seven kids, five girls and two boys, and has a sister, Donna Sterling, in Birmingham who sang in the groundbreaking Reggae band Steel Pulse.
Finally he says:
"My ambition is to become a producer and a composer. Thanks to all my friends and family who supported me throughout my career and my kids who play a vital role in my life. Jah bless you all.
Peace Peace Peace David Lloyd Henry”