Arturo Tappin, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, is noted as one of the smoothest, ‘saxiest’ horn men Barbados and the Caribbean have to offer.
He has performed and toured with the likes of Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, hard-bop trumpeter Robert Red Rodney Chudnick, reggae superstar Maxi Priest, Anita Baker and Freddy Jackson, just to name a few.
Tappin has also entertained former United States presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, late Cuban President Fidel Castro, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn.
Q: What does Barbados mean to you?
A: I have travelled the world many times over—Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, North and South America—but nowhere gives me a feeling of completeness like coming back home to Barbados.
The number one reason? The people. The people are friendly, politically peaceful and aware; you are free to practise any religion, and despite a small, seemingly increasing number of violent acts, we are still relatively peaceful. But we are on a permanent go-slow and we are not in a hurry to do anything. Each generation changes, so it is not that easy to say that all Barbadians are friendly or polite, but we have pockets of good and bad. So far, the bad has not outgrown the good.
Q: What does Independence mean to you?
A: The day we are reminded to celebrate the giants whose shoulders we stand on.
Q: Where do you want to see Barbados as it celebrates 52 years of Independence?
A: Winning the race towards a green Barbados.
Q: What is your favourite Barbadian tradition?
A: Weekend visits to Farley Hill and Bathsheba followed by Sunday lunch at Atlantis.
Q: What is your favourite Bajan saying?
A: Who help you to buy ah big guts horse doan help yuh feed um. (LG)
thought i was reading “er” man.
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