I was a bit surprised and excited a few days ago when Bankie told me that the Mad Squad was having a concert on Prickly Pear. I was surprised because I had not heard that name in a long time and I knew that the members of that band were now all doing different things, some of which were totally unrelated to music. I was excited because I felt it was an opportunity for the older generations to experience the nostalgia of hearing the Mad Squad again and for the “now generation”, who might attend simply because it’s a fete at Prickly Pear, to hear “good music and singing”.
When Bankie comes to see me it is usually for advice or a favor – a word here or there to someone or a contribution of some sort (my time or otherwise) to one of his activities. I’m usually happy to assist as we cross paths maybe only four or five times a year including “Moonsplash” when I help out at the gate. We love each other dearly as brothers and we are both fine with how our somewhat distant relationship operates. I think we have two distinctly different personalities.My sister Linda, the Psychologist, could maybe explain that. I cannot.
When Bankie came to me, I knew immediately that he needed a favor done and he knew I would not refuse.When he told me about the concert, and the need for a story to go into the “Anguillian”, despite the uncertainty I harbored in my mind about my recollection of those long gone days, I had to say, yes.
So to the Mad Squad which was a musical band of the early to mid-seventies comprising a group which, to my mind, were the most talented musicians and vocalistsever assembled as a band in Anguilla. They were:
Bankie Banks – Bass man/Vocalist.
Corrine Richardson aka Sproka – Lead Guitar/Vocalist.
Kingsley Richardson aka Power Keyboards/Vocalist.
Austin Brookes aka Idubra – Drummer/Percussionist.
Dennis Harrigan aka Tom-Paynie – Vocalist/Percussionist.
Keith Richardson aka Tasha or Tasha Sethole – Drummer/Percussionist/Vocalist.
Milton Gumbs aka Singerman – Vocalist/Percussionist.
Roland Richardson aka Monta – Rhythm guitar/Vocalist.
Rolston Hodge aka Rollie or The Mighty Pulfaro.
The Mad Squad grew out of what was previously a band known as “Jessie and the Fantastics” which had been led by Collins “Jessie” Hodge a flamboyant and loved figure who had featured very prominently in the Anguilla Revolution. After some years the core members of that group decided to leave and form the Mad Squad.
The band’s practice location was the Blue Caribe Restaurant which was in the big blue building housing “Wings and Things Restaurant” located next to DIGICEL. The owners at the time were William “Slim” Horsford (deceased) and Benson Richardson. They willingly accommodated the band and on occasion dances were held there.
Bankie, Sproka and Kingsley were the main members of the Mad Squad and owned the instruments.The other members were employees. Roy “Selwyn” Horsford and I managed the band’s affairs from accounting to event arrangements. We proudly set up a system where immediately after each function the band’smembers would be paid for their services. We found that this worked extremely well though, for Roy and I, it meant many late nights waiting for the band to stop playing.
The Mad Squad was immensely popular in Anguilla drawing large crowds to its functions which were held at prominent entertainment centres at that time such as the Evening Star Casino, the Community Centre, Tropical Flower, Jeff’s Hall in South Hill, Gassy’s “Cool Corner” in South Valley, Lucas Wilson’s SocialCentre on the White Hill, the Cannon Ball, Ultra Cool and the Country Club in The Forest.
The various British units (Army, Engineers and Police) who were on the island at the time – post invasion – held numerous function, and the Mad Squad was always a popular band choice.
The Mad Squad’s popularity resulted from its members’ superior musical talent, extraordinary singing ability, the wide and varied repertoire of songs it delivered, and the outstanding stage performances. The band could, simply put, “please and excite a crowd”. The music of the day was Calypso, Spouge, Reggae, Rock-Steady,The Ska, Merengue, Soul, Country and Western, Rhythm and Blues and Pop. Soca, dub and dancehall had not yet arrived.
The band soon decided that it was time to record some music and travelled to Barbados to do so. At that time recording facilities were non-existent in Anguilla and the neigbouring islands. At the Merrymen’s studio, the band recorded three tracks and had the recording pressed (to use the terminology of the day) at West Indies Record Limited (WIRL) in Barbados.
The tunes on the record were All through The Dance, You’ll Never Say Goodbye and Insanity. They were instantly popular and the Mad Squadbecame a household name. Radio Antilles, the most popular radio station across the region, gave the tunes much airplay. As one of the hottest bands in the sub-region, the Mad Squad did musical concerts with other host bands for large crowds in the neighbouring islands.
Sadly, as Anguillians began to emigrate to the USVI and US in order to improve their lot, the Mad Squad fell apart and all we have now is a distant memory of what was a source of pride and joy to many.
Let’s go to Prickly Pear on Sunday to savor past pleasuresprovided by the Mad Squad and experience the music of the 1970s played by some of Anguilla’s top musical talents.
