Bankie Banx

Bankie Banx is one of the most distinctive voices to come out of the Caribbean. His raspy baritone has led many to proclaim his sound as a combination of Marley and Dylan, with a touch of Sinatra. Bankie's laid back persona and island lifestyle evoke Jimmy Buffett. Despite the comparisons, Bankie remains a unique talent on the reggae and island music landscape. Bankie burst onto the Caribbean music scene in 1977 with an album that included 5 number hits. Yet the continual evolution of his musical sound has helped him remain fresh and win over a new generation of fans. His music fuses reggae, folk and jazz into a sound that is distinctly Bankie Banx. In March 2007, Bankie brought Jimmy Buffett to the Dune Preserve for one of the most anticipated performance the region had ever seen. The performance was captured on a live CD/DVD entitled "Jimmy Buffett: Live In Anguilla" distributed by Mailboat Records. Bankie is featured on both the CD and DVD performing his classic "Stuck In Paradise". Though Bankie had previously achieved critical and popular reggae success, the world was introduced to, and experienced Bankie on a completely different stage. Bankie has also made several international television appearances including The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Bachelor and various Travel Channel specials. Bankie has recorded with music legends Bob Dylan and Jimmy Buffett. Bankie founded the Moonsplash Music Festival in 1991. Moonsplash has become one of the premier music festivals in the Eastern Caribbean, and is the longest running independent music festival in the region. Moonsplash has featured every relevant reggae act in the past 25 years. Past performers have included Rita Marley, Bunny Wailer, The Wailers, Steel Pulse, Toots and the Maytals, Buju Banton, Black Uhuru, Freddie McGregor, Third World, Tarrus Riley, Culture, Marcia Griffith, Derek Morgan, Gramps Morgan, Jah Cure, Chronixx, Omari Banks, Duane Stephenson, Romain Virgo, Pressure Buss Pipe, Orange Grove, Da'Ville and many others. Special guest performers have also included John Mayer, Alana Davis, Ritchie Havens and The Bacon Brothers. Since 2012, in addition to his continued performing, recording and touring, Bankie Banx has been instrumental in developing and mentoring emerging artists including Omari Banks.