The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama recorded its first homicide for 2019 when well-known musician and businessman Lester Adderley Sr was shot outside a night spot in Freeport early Sunday morning.

In August 2015 his son, Lester Adderley Jr, who owned and operated several businesses in Freeport, was also murdered after being shot outside his residence. After his son’s death, the elder Adderley took over and ran the businesses.

According to reports, Adderley Sr was shot and killed at Gametime, located in the former Gwen’s Plaza, which was one of several establishments acquired by his late son.

Sometime after midnight yesterday, police received reports of multiple gunshots fired in the area of East Atlantic Drive and sent a team of officers to investigate. When police arrived, they discovered the lifeless body of a man on the ground.

Supt Brian Rolle, officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit on the island, said officers are in the preliminary stage of their investigation and were unable to release the victim’s name at this time.

A video was circulated on social media of the deceased – a light-skinned man with dreadlocks – lying in a pool of blood on the concrete floor just outside the plaza.

Supt Rolle said that medical personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

“We are in the preliminary stage of our investigation, and we just like to say to the general public that any information they may know concerning this matter to please contact the Police Control Room or CDU,” he said.

Adderley Sr was a talented musician and entertainer in Grand Bahama for many years. A guitarist, Adderley Sr made a remix of one of the songs on Baha Men’s “2 Zero” album, “Hooked On a Feeling,” released in 1999.

Grand Bahama resident Dave Mackey, of Uppercut Band, knew Adderley Sr for many years and worked with him in the music studio. He was sad to hear the news of his death.

He said that Adderley Sr was an “incredible guitarist,” but that he had also put out an album that was sought after by people in the international music industry.

“I was quite saddened to hear the news of Lester Adderley’s passing. I have known Lester for many, many years and my affiliation with him was in the world of music,” said Mr Mackey, who is also well-known in the music industry as a member and lead guitarist of T-Connection.

“Lester Adderley was a musician’s musician; an amazing guitar player. In addition to being a musician, Lester was also a highly successful music producer with many hit songs and albums to his name,” recalled Mr Mackey, who in the mid-80s produced an album with Adderley Sr called “Lester Farai”.

“We spent countless hours at Cay Gottlieb’s Cicada Sound Studio (the present Grand Bahama home of The Tribune, KISS FM and 100 Jamz radio station) perfecting and recording his album.

“The interesting thing about that album of late is that there has been a resurgence of interest expressed by international persons in the last year to get their hands on vinyl copies of his album paying upwards to $125 for a single copy. I send condolences to his family through this tragic loss of his life,” he said.

In August 2015, Adderley Sr’s son was found shot dead at an apartment complex, the Blue Marina Cove apartments, on Sunken Treasure Drive, near the Xanadu Beach.

Adderley Jr, had been the owner of the former Mega Hits music store, and a few other business establishments. The younger Adderley was one of several people questioned in connection with the death of Freeport businessman Konstantino “Konkey” Vardoulis, 34, who was shot dead outside his Bahama Reef Boulevard residence in 2008 or 2009. However, he was never charged with the murder.

The Tribune understands Adderley Sr had left music to pursue other endeavours and was reportedly in the numbers business for many years. Of late, he was running a nightclub, Cayo, his son had on Midshipman Road.