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George Nowak

This man is like the energizer bunny – after all these years, all the bands and all the applause, Charles Ebanks is still going strong.
 
His exuberant and innovative drumming style has placed him on the same stage with some of the Caribbean’s top soca artists like as Crazy, Tambu and Baron to name but a few.
 
He’s opened for Maxi Priest, Third World, Ziggy Marley and Steel Pulze. On the local scene he’s drummed his dramatic, suspenseful back beats for yours truly (Barefoot Man and Band) and also with Sea n’ B, Coco Red, Michael Lemay and Cayman’s top reggae group Tabia.
 
After years of playing at the old popular Holiday Inn (present location of The Ritz-Carlton) and its closing - Charles joined the Footloose Band which eventually broke up after a few years. However, the energy was still there, you can’t keep a good musician down and “nothing outlasts the energizer”. Besides his daytime job as Senior Graphic Designer at Cayman Free Press he currently drums for the popular show band Suite Elite. In this band his versatility shines as he now cascades his tom rolls and wild cymbal crashes behind popular hit tunes from the 80’s, 90’s and present.
 
Drummers rarely get credit – it’s a known fact that when a group becomes popular one might comment on the vocal styling of the lead singer, or the burning fingers of a lead guitarist , however the drummer is usually just back there keeping the beat. Well, Robert ‘Charles’ Ebanks has rendered that premise null and void. Like Ringo with the Beatles or Don Henley with the Eagles, Charles Ebanks may sit at the back of the stage, however, he is the sweetener in Suite Elite.   WH