The Tribune

By FARAH
Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

PURSUING a career in real estate was the best thing to do after he failed to realise his musical aspirations more than a decade ago. Now, Bahamian entertainer Johnnie Christie is taking another shot at music, with the release of an album and the relaunch of the Floating Boats band.

During the start of its musical career, the former Floating Boats found some success as a rock band in the early 90s. The group gained a huge following along the northeast coast of the United States, touring from Maine to Washington DC. They also created a new sound by combining rock stylised guitar and vocals with island rhythms, including Junkanoo and Calypso.

Back then, the band was focused on getting its big break, but things did not go exactly the way they imagined.

“I began my interest in music when I was 7 years old and began taking guitar lessons, and played with a group of students called the Ballads and Blues. I had my first performance about 6 months later. I was very scared. To be on stage playing in front of hundred’s of people. I gave up after about a year then I took up the trumpet when I was 10 or 11 and played brass. The guitar is now deeply entrenched in my life,” he told In Ya Ear.

In 2009 Johnnie joined up with a group of friends for a charity event and the band 25 North, for which he played the drums. Playing live inspired him to get back into his own music. He founded Floating Boats with co-founder Danny Bernini, who mastered their CD.

With two members of 25 North, Kyle Baley and Joe Euteneur, as well as Ricky Rolle and Andrew Beckford, two members from Sub-Culture, another local band, Johnnie formed a new band that will be performing songs from the CD as well as new originals.

“When I was in the first stage of my musical career, our dreams were to get signed to a large label and become successful rock musicians. Now it is more about having fun and just playing and performing my music and having great shows. Of course it would be wonderful to be recognised and successful on a world level, should that happen, but that is not the driving force now. The main thing is to write and play great music and have fun doing it. It is food for the soul,” he told In Ya Ear.

The album is a compilation of 13 songs, including the iconic “Doctor Man”, along with the heartfelt “Will You?” which are gaining airplay on local radio stations.

“When we play I would say that we are mainly a rock show, but there are very strong Caribbean influences in our music, especially traditional Calypso rhythms and the net effect is a sound that we call Rockalypso. It is a very cool sound and one that a Bahamian audience can truly appreciate,” he said.

Johnnie said they are currently working on getting the band introduced to the Bahamas and building our local fan base.

Band members include Johnnie Christie lead vocals and acoustic guitar; Danny Bernini; lead guitar and vocals; Martyn James, bass and vocals; Dave Higgins drums and vocals.