One of the pioneers in the arena of DJs in the Cayman Islands, who is still younger than most would consider a pioneer having to be, is Stoy Ebanks from Don 1 International Sound.

As the younger brother of well known veteran DJ Super C, the founder of what has become Don 1 had his musical baptism at 15, when most of his peers were waiting to finish school before taking on a new challenge.

“I went to a dance with my brother in the 90s to help him set up and when he left to go home to change, he fell asleep and l was left there on my own. By that time, I knew how to turn everything on and I just flipped the switch and started entertaining a large group of people. From then until now I have been in love with it.”

In 1997 when Stoy left high school, he formed Don 1 and never looked back.

The young DJ already had access to some of the most sought after dub-plates, as a result of his older brother’s connections in the business and today he flaunts a collection consisting of ‘specials’ as they are known, from the likes of Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Baby Wayne, artists who in some cases will never record a special again for as long as the world turns.

In reggae music culture a dub-plate is a status symbol, which is a sign of a Disc Jockey’s seniority.

Today Don 1 International is the resident sound system at Club Inferno in Hell, West Bay on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, where they can be found spinning everything from reggae to salsa, meringue, soca and R and B; to name but a few.

Additionally, Stoy says he has expanded the Don 1 offering to include three separate systems, “like a franchise” and is hoping to continue to his rise to hopefully one day be on radio.

He has participated in several competitions along the way as well, and took second place, behind his brother Super C in the 2008 The One Sound Clash, hosted by Heineken at the Limestone Ironshore Lounge.

“I love competing and have been in several clashes,” says Stoy. “Even though some people tend to take it more than others, I feel like music is about life and that is the most important thing. It’s about life and unity despite the competition,” he explains.

According to the DJ, his most memorable moment behind a DJ console was at a night spot in West Bay called Kelly’s when he was DJing with the late Jazzy B. He says he recalls Jazzy was spinning the records and he was chanting various slogans during the set.

“He played my CD selection like they were his. He died several weeks later. It was not the biggest event, nor was it planned, it simply connected and for many reasons that is the one that I hold dearest,” says Stoy.

Look out for Don 1 productions coming to a show near you soon. For bookings contact 917-8914 or 321-1450.