Eric Gibson
Encyclopedia
"King" Eric Gibson is a Bahamian musician and entrepreneur. He is also the semiofficial Ambassador of Bahamian Goodwill.
Gibson was born on the small island of Acklins
to a musical family, although he didn't pursue music until his adulthood. After leading several musical acts in the 1950s, Gibson formed King Eric & His Knights around 1957, which specialized in a modernized style of calypso music
, a type of Caribbean folk music that received worldwide recognition when American singer Harry Belafonte
released the album Calypso in 1956. King Eric & His Knights enjoyed immediate popularity among tourists in Nassau
, almost certainly due to their performances of the Calypso folksongs made famous by Belafonte. The band regularly performed at nightclubs and hotels, where their records (often in high demand by both tourists and locals) could be purchased in the gift shop. In 1966, Gibson opened a recording studio to support other native Bahamian musicians.
While the lineup of the Knights continued to rotate, King Eric & His Knights remained a popular musical staple in Nassau, often headlining music festivals. In 1973, Gibson formed the "King & Knights Club", a nightclub that not only featured the band, but a variety show that included carnival
-style entertainment such as fire juggling and limbo dancing. It was renamed "The Blue Note" in 2006.
King Eric & His Knights also enjoyed popularity outside of the Bahamas, touring in North America and Australia.
While the international appeal of calypso music has dwindled in recent times, Gibson remains a successful entertainer and businessman in Nassau. He is active in the regatta
and maintains a successful racing sloop
; he also owns an Italian-Bahamian restaurant.
Gibson and his common law wife, Brigitte Neven, were in Florida at the time of Anna Nichole Smith's death. They were invited guests of Anna Nicole, and were among the first to arrive when she began to exhibit signs of trouble.
Gibson was born on the small island of Acklins
Acklins
Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and...
to a musical family, although he didn't pursue music until his adulthood. After leading several musical acts in the 1950s, Gibson formed King Eric & His Knights around 1957, which specialized in a modernized style of calypso music
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
, a type of Caribbean folk music that received worldwide recognition when American singer Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
released the album Calypso in 1956. King Eric & His Knights enjoyed immediate popularity among tourists in Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
, almost certainly due to their performances of the Calypso folksongs made famous by Belafonte. The band regularly performed at nightclubs and hotels, where their records (often in high demand by both tourists and locals) could be purchased in the gift shop. In 1966, Gibson opened a recording studio to support other native Bahamian musicians.
While the lineup of the Knights continued to rotate, King Eric & His Knights remained a popular musical staple in Nassau, often headlining music festivals. In 1973, Gibson formed the "King & Knights Club", a nightclub that not only featured the band, but a variety show that included carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
-style entertainment such as fire juggling and limbo dancing. It was renamed "The Blue Note" in 2006.
King Eric & His Knights also enjoyed popularity outside of the Bahamas, touring in North America and Australia.
While the international appeal of calypso music has dwindled in recent times, Gibson remains a successful entertainer and businessman in Nassau. He is active in the regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
and maintains a successful racing sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
; he also owns an Italian-Bahamian restaurant.
Gibson and his common law wife, Brigitte Neven, were in Florida at the time of Anna Nichole Smith's death. They were invited guests of Anna Nicole, and were among the first to arrive when she began to exhibit signs of trouble.
Partial King Eric & His Knights Discography
- BAMA Hit Parade (1960)
- Calypso Encores (with Ronnie ButlerRonnie ButlerRonnie Butler is a famous Bahamian calypso and rake n scrape entertainer and singer. Butler is referred to as "The Godfather of Bahamian Music" and his career spans more than five decades....
) (1962) - King Eric & His Knights at the Big Bamboo (1964)
- Paging King Eric & His Knights (1964)
- Checkmate (1966?)
- All Time Favourites Calipsos [sic] (1966?)
- Emerald Beach Plantation (1971)
- Bahama Goombay Summer (1972)
- Live at the King & Knights Club (1974?)
- Island Boy (1978)