About George
Anyone who has know Don Foster as long as I have (over 30 years) knows he has many passions, including scuba, food and music – to name but a few.
Don, the founder of Don Foster’s Dive, chairman of the Marine Conservation Board, lover of good food and consumer of fine brew is best known as the man who keeps the beat behind the RED WHITE and BLUES band that performs weekly at the Havana Club.
I first met Don back in the early 70s when I was performing at the Lighthouse Club in Breakers. On stage was an old set of rarely used and much rusted Ludwiks. I was informed that there was a drummer in the house and invited Don on stage. He had no sticks but that didn’t stop him. “No worries,” said Don, and the next thing I know he had cut off a few branches from a mango tree which were transformed into drum sticks.
Before I finished the next tune I had drum accompaniment and had made a good friend. As the years went by Don and I worked together at the old Galleon Beach Hotel, Holiday Inn, and venues abroad.
Don first started beating drums with close friends during his high school days at Triple C School. The band called itself Burning Heaven, which raised eyebrows at the staunchly Christian Academy. Thirty-five years later Don is still at it and hasn’t lost his touch. He is the perfect all-rounder and I’m not talking about his waistline.
What I mean is Don’s ability to play rock, jazz, blues, calypso and even country. Such variation in grooves and techniques is important to any band leader in Cayman since the local genre of live music is such a mixed bag. Cayman has its share of guitarists, vocalists and keyboard players, however with all the high- tech, electronic, computerised drum machines available on the market a live drummer is hard to find and a good live drummer is an exceptional catch. It looks like Bob Moseley leader of RED WHITE and BLUES caught a big one. WH