If you ever visit the island of Anguilla then you will be sure to cross paths with Bankie. Born on this beautiful island, Bankie Banx has been making reggae music for the past 30 years; with his trademark hat and unique blend of reggae music Bankie is one of Anguillas finest.
Making music was a childhood dream for Bankie and he made early success with his first number one hit in 1977 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Bankie and his band ‘The Roots & Herbs’ spent time in Europe and the Caribbean before the band dispanded and Bankie set of to further his career in the US. His unique and somewhat chilling voice his often been compared to that of Bob Dylan and Bankie himself has taken much inspiration from Bob and added a little folk into his music. Bankies muscial journey was booming in the US before he got ‘Busted’ in Barbados for marijuana possesion and was subsequently banned for 10 years.
On his return to Anguilla, Bankie set about building something else to call his own…The Dune Preserve. The Dune, or Planet Dune as many would call it, has grown from a small one cabin beach hut to a full blown piece of history. A year round beach bar and nightlub you will hear the sounds of Bankie and friends before you arrive. It is also the home to another of Banks’ musical projects – Moonsplash.
Moonsplash has become one of the premier music festivals in the Eastern Caribbean and has featured internationally revered reggae artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Rita Marley, Black Uhuru, Freddie McGregor, Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, Culture, Marcia Griffiths, Taurrus Riley, Roots & Herbs, Buju Banton, Anthony B, Burning Spear and The Wailers. The dune preserve was destroyed by Hurricanes in 1996 and 1999, but Banks rebuilt it and Moonsplash lives on.
I have had the pleasure of sitting in the Dune with Bankie and Friends and his rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ in the early hours of new years day is a moment I will treasure forever.
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