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The Life, Music and Times of Estin Sawyer
... An Abaco Legend

Talking to Estin Sawyer, one quickly realizes that he is as much an embodiment of a quiet unassuming gentleman as he is a testimony to what the good old days were like in Abaco.
Estin Ronnymore Sawyer was born in Dundastown on January 14, 1944 to Arthur (will) and Litta Sawyer died when Estin was 14 months old and it was his aunt, Pezzreta Cornish and his elder sister, Flora who raised him. He has fond memories of attending Dundastown All-Age School, where at a young age, Ms Sherrilyn C. Bootle instilled in him the virtues of Self-reliance and perseverance.

These virtues have been the source of the inner strength that have guided him through the formative years as a young man and have given him the confidence to pursue his goals in the world of entertainment. But, before Estin's flair for music developed into a full-time career, he pursued the path of opportunity wherever it led. For five-six years, he worked as a sailor, working as a crewman on a freight barge that sailed between the Abacos, Nassau and Miami. During those years, he made contacts who would prove to be invaluable later in his life.
When he returned to work on the mainland of Abaco, he briefly took up the carpentry trade again before he venture into a seven-year stint in the heavy equipment industry. Estin still admits how grateful he feels to Edison Key for giving him the opportunity to learn. He learned to operate the bulldozer and the Scraper 621 and maintained the Abaco Highway by running the grader across the entire length of the island of Great Abaco.

All of this is so reminiscent of the stories one has heard of the beginnings of the great Folk and Rock legends of years ago, like Arlo Guthrie and Jim Croce. Perhaps, there's something about "grassroots" experience which, in the course of time, awakens the inspiration to create music and song. And, so it has been for Estin.

Nestled in the security of his aunt's home, his earliest memories of being attracted to the "melodic muse" was when he was eight years old and he was captivated by the sound of his older sister, Flora playing some Spanish tunes open-cord on the family guitar. It wasn't until years later, that he would organize a band and perform on stage himself, but the first melodies from his sister's guitar was like a siren calling him forward to his own destiny.

Like so many in the music industry, Estin's debut was at Church for some five years, off and on, he would sing at the spiritual concerts for the Methodist Church here in Marsh Harbour. In fact, it was at the Christmas and Easter religious processions which he played the goatskin drum that he first reaped some financial rewards for his talent. He went on to perform across the Abacos - from the Surf Side Club in Hopetown, to what was once Lake City and down Sandy Point - trudging at 25 mph in a '58 T-Bird down roads he had once graded. In those days, much of the trek would be made in true pioneering spirit - something you might say that Abaco still seems to arouse in all of us who venture here.

After considerable success, as often happens, the Band re-organized in a moment of gusto, they dubbed themselves "Yoho". New members were Jimmy Lockhart on drums, Cardinal Davis and Rudy Smith. Edward Sawyer joined later and deepened the Yoho sound with his bass guitar. The group stayed together for 3 years and then events changed to make it possible for Estin to get more exposure.

The late 60's were the "hey-days' of the Treasure Cay Resort. As such, permanent weekend gigs opened up at the hopping Treasure Cay Beach Hotel. The band now called themselves "The Deltones". Members include the late Nelson Mills as Drummer, Tyrone Henderson on Bass and, along with Estin Sawyer, Selbert Cooper on second lead guitar. The venue offered Estin a terrific stage to showcase his talents to an international clientele. The naturals spin-offs were all-expenses paid invitations to perform abroad.

There was Phyllis Fairbanks, the American tourist who took the Band to perform at small parties in Newark, New Jersey and arranged for them to do some recordings. There was Gail Aster, who commissioned the Band to perform at the Patch of Maiden Restaurant in Toledo, Ohio.

Thanks to the Ministry of Tourism's Promotion of Bahamian art and culture, Estin has performed for the Queen at Earls Court Auditorium in London, England and is scheduled to return. In addition to having had the opportunity to meet the Queen, he especially cherished rubbing elbows with the likes of Elton John and Paul McCartney. But, despite all the fame and fortune of his varied and interesting career, Estin feels most indebted to the people who have always supported him and have been his mainstay for thirteen years here in Abaco. He fondly remembers Barbara Smith of Wally's Restaurant, who, in the old days, used to pick him up for work. Her sister, Maureen would be there with a complimentary Screwdriver (drink) to prime up his enthusiasm. Through thick and think, they have always been there with a word of encouragement. Estin is also grateful for the warm relationship with the management of the establishment of Abaco-Towns-by-the-Sea, where he has now performed for the eighteenth year.

Estin would feel remiss if he did not also acknowledge the support of his eight (8) children: Kim, Barbara, Christian, Clint, Al, Carlos, Sabrena and Mark. Of the eight, Clint is the one who had decided to keep the music tradition of the family alive. He plays with a six-piece band, but, like his father before him, also can perform solo.

When I last spoke with Estin, he was pondering over the notion of one day being set up in a permanent location where he could do away with having a continuously carrying heavy equipment. But, until that happens, we can hear Mr. Sawyer perform a medley of calypso and jazz tunes - old Caribbean favourites like Matilda and My Island in the Sun in a style similar to the late George Symonette and Blind Blake. Estin performs at Marsh Harbour's Abaco-Towns-by-the-Sea every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, 6:30-9:00 p.m., at Wally's on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7:00-10:00 p.m. and at Green Turtle Cay Club on Mondays, 6:30-10:30 p.m. As always, he is also available for private functions.