• Latest
Ferguson “Sugar Tamarind” Adams

Ferguson “Sugar Tamarind” Adams

9 years ago
NDC signals a fresh start

PM Hon. Dickon Mitchell to attend 43rd Caricom Heads meeting in Suriname

10 hours ago
Docked salaries of teachers to be repaid

Docked salaries of teachers to be repaid

1 day ago

Cabinet of Ministers as of 30 June 2022

1 day ago
Auto Draft

8th Chinese Bridge Competition

1 day ago
28 & 29 August RGPF Live Ammunition Training

Live ammunition training 2 July 2022

1 day ago
International Day of Co-operatives 2 July

International Day of Co-operatives 2 July

1 day ago
Traffic Notice: River Road limited access

Traffic Advisory: Oil Spill, vicinity of “1910”

1 day ago
NDC announces 7 candidates

PM Dickon Mitchell’s first overseas trip is to 43rd Caricom Heads meeting

1 day ago
Buy more shares in GRENLEC

New majority shareholder for Grenlec priority

1 day ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 30 June 2022

2 days ago
Mighty Sparrow to be honoured with special day in Grenada

Mighty Sparrow to be honoured with special day in Grenada

3 days ago

Update: NAWASA’s water systems

3 days ago
NOW Grenada
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Ferguson “Sugar Tamarind” Adams

This story was posted 9 years ago
19 August 2013
in Arts/Culture/Entertainment
2 min. read
Sugar Adams playing the drum (courtesy of Cultural Equity) 
Share

Ferguson “Sugar Tamarind” Adams (c.1890-1983) was probably the most legendary Big Drum Dance performer and “certainly one of the greatest musicians that the Caribbean has produced.” He was an acclaimed drummer, dancer and singer. He was popularly known as Sugar Adams.

At age 12 years Adams was taught to play the drum by noted drummer, Elisha George, and thereafter excelled in the art form. He performed throughout Grenada and the Grenadines, playing to esteemed audiences, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1966. With the Mt. Royal drummers he achieved his greatest fame in the 1950s and 1960s, playing the “cut” drum. His artistry led musicologist Andrew Pearse in 1952 to identify him as “the leading drummer of the island.” Among Adam’s diverse talents was the making of the goatskin drum or the lapo-kabwit (la peau de cabrite: “goatskin”). According to Christine David, his famous words in regard to drumming were: “Goat skin hands born for the purpose, bring the keg (drum).” Though retired, he made trips to the US in 1975 (and was honored at a ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History) and the UK in 1980, with groups of Big Drum Dance performers. Anthropologist Donald Hill describes him as “one of the most knowledgeable old heads on the Big Drum” and “probably the best known Carriacouan to folklorists and anthropologists,” having served as an informant to researchers like MG Smith and JD Elder. When he died Adams was 93 years old, having played a tremendous role in the survival and spread of Carriacou Culture in general, and the Big Drum Dance in particular.

Adam’s wife, Mary “May” Fortune (d. 1973), was also a well-known Big Drum singer, “one of the most accomplished singers of her generation.” Together they were known as “Carriacou’s premier musical couple.” Audio recordings featuring Adams’ drumming include Carriacou Calaloo, Saraca and Tombstone Feast.

From A-Z of Grenada Heritage by John Angus Martin

Sugar Adams playing drum at Prospect Maroon, 1968: http://www.carriacou1968.com/big-drum-in-carriacou/big-drum-in-carriacou/

Listen to audio recordings of Sugar Adams drumming and interviews on Carriacou culture at Cultural Equity: http://research.culturalequity.org/rc-b2/search-keyword-audio.do

 

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: adamsafricabigcarriacouculturedrumhistorymaroonmusicsugar
Next Post
Hood and James appointed to serve in diplomatic posts by NNP administration

New Ambassadors To Be In Office by 01 September

Comments 1

  1. Philomen Adams says:
    8 months ago

    That’s my grandfather ooh! it’s a pleasure ☺seeing him my brother’s look like him.my name is Philomen Adams off Trinidad and Tobago. And I hope to get some more information if possible.

    Reply

Comment on post Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.