Dear Editor,

Indeed, the honour that has been bestowed upon the Burning Flames by the Govt, is definitely well deserving!

The fantastic four, as some persons may refer to them as, have paid their dues to nation building and have placed Antigua & Barbuda on the map. For years, they have become a household name locally, regionally and internationally and a spectacle to attract thousands of patrons to our shores for our carnival.

In the early 70’s, I was a resident in Potters Village also known as Patta. The Edward boys ( Burning Flames ) had lived in the vicinity of the old Dairy Factory on Potters main road, where I was living just a block or two from them.

Luckily, I had the privilege of growing up with Unku, Bu-by, Onion & Fox in Potters Village. The four, came from humble beginnings and inspite of their international recognition, to this day, they have not lost that common touch. Their character & disposition remain the same today, as it was 40 years ago. Fox was always that quiet person. I can’t recall hearing him talk. He always had a smile.

From the four, I was a little more intimate with Bu-by because of our age. I can remember as youngsters we would meet with our peers from the area and use bicycle rims without spokes to race or go wheeling, using a metal guider or a wooden stick to guide the rim down a projected track. We tried to be creative then to create our excitement.

At an early age, within the neighborhood, the Edward boys began making a name for themselves, Alot was said about them. Persons believed that their musical skills was inherited from their mother or grand mother. Surprisingly, unlike them, their sisters never chose the spotlight and Kellman, an older brother, also had the ability to play music & sing but like many others within the village, he migrated off to Canada in the mid 70’s to seek greener pastures and eventually became a pastor.

I can recalled that their home, which was just on the opposite side of the edifice which once hosted the Dairy factory, was also used as a venue to practice. Hence, from time to time, the neighborhood was infiltrated with the sounds of their musical exuberance.

Back then, Potters Primary School was one of the venues that they had the privilege to begin to show off their God given musical talent. From time to time, the school will have a function and they would be invited to be a part of the program. At that time, they were known as ” The Flames ” before they rebranded themselves as the Burning Flames then to the Red Hot Flames.

Because they were full of life, very colorful and animated, it was not by accident, Jam Pond & Lions came on the scene. They had liked the spot light. They were very entertaining, full of energy and they made sure that the quality of their music stood out. Their music was just unique and captivating. Just about then, Burning Flames became a house hold name in Antigua & Barbuda & beyond its shores.

I must say congrats to them. They have contributed tremendously to the building of this nation especially in the area of tourism. They have certainly kept the flag of our twin island state of Antigua & Barbuda, flying high and have made us all proud as Antiguans.

For me, it is extremely heartwarming that the Govt have seen it fit to honour the Burning Flames for their 40th anniversary, by renaming the Potters main road, where they once lived and where the band was conceived, as the Burning Flames Highway & simultaneously honour them with a diplomatic passport.

Congratulations Guys !!!

Alex