Island Boy 2003

Traffic Island Productions presents "Island Boy." A six piece rock and soul party band based out of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Instrumentation consists of guitars, electric bass, drums, multi-percussion and hand drums, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, piano/keyboards and vocals. The band was formed in 1993 and has groovin’ non-stop ever since.

The selection of music concentrates mainly on rock & soul DANCE grooves covered in the past four decades. Party music that cuts with a Caribbean style edge. Tasty-jazz style rythmn and blues is also in the set list.

Island Boy covers classic artists such as: Van Morrisson, Eric Clapton, the Beatles, Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Santana, the Rolling Stones, the Neville Bros., James Taylor, Paul Simon, Average White Band, Delbert McClinton, Steely Dan, J. Geils band, Dr. John, Talking Heads, Rare Earth, Neville Brothers, KC and the Sunshine Band, Stevie Wonder, Prince and more!!

The current band is comprised of three almost-original members: Joe DeMatteo on drums and vocals, Donald Goodwin on guitars and vocals and Bill "the Duke" Ellington on saxophone and vocals. The veterans are accompanied by Walter Walker who has been jammin’ since 1995 on congas, bongos, bells, cymbals and other multi-percussion and Dana Silver, a retired USN musician who reigns as one of Hampton Roads top bassist.  The newest member, 19 year old Nick Selby, just joined the band in March of 2003.  Nick has been playing instruments since childhood and ironically accompanied his father to Island Boys’ first CD release party back in 1997.  He was 13 years old and had no idea that he would end up being at the bands third CD release party, as a band member!!  He brings a fresh, young sound on keyboards, guitars and vocals.

Veteran musician Andy Harrell is also a lifetime honorary member of the Island Boy band.  You can catch him sitting in with the band on various gigs.  Andy adds tasty guitar and guitar synth fills to supplement the existing six piece sound.

Original music is also on the setlist. Our debut CD, "Carryout/Delivery" was released in October 1997 and close to 1000 copies were sold in eight months. The Pilot's "Daily Break" reviewed the CD as "A superior product that blends Caribbean and jazz styles, highlighted by the sax work of Duke Ellington." The CD contains eight Island Boy originals and four other tracks covering renditions of previously released material. The tunes cover styles reflecting world music, rock and jazz. A second CD was recorded live in 2000 and is comprised of some of the bands’ favorite cover tunes.  It’s entitled “Live Under the Covers.”

The band is eclectic in look and style.  Island Boy’s age range spans from 19 to 65!!   This WIDE age range brings youthful energy combined with seasoned wisdom.  The musical selections favor this range as well.  The band is fun to watch and even more fun to hear.  You are guaranteed to dance at an Island Boy show.  Island Boy performs at clubs, venues, corporate functions, weddings and festivals in the Hampton Roads area and along the VA/MD/NC coastline. Of course, there is Key West.

Members of the band were introduced to Jimmy Buffett backstage during a concert at the college of William and Mary in 1991. Jimmy listened to some of their music and invited them down to perform at his Margaritaville Cafe. They have continued to travel to Key West once or twice a year to perform at his club and entertain tourists from all over the world. Playing  the Margaritaville Café is an honor only some of the most prestigious "road bands" acquire and continue for a decade. In 1999, Island Boy represented Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe at the annual "Cayo Carnival," which is a huge fundraiser to save the reef off of the Key West coastline.  This year Island Boy will be in the keys on November 18 through November 23.

Island Boy was surprisingly joined on stage by Dave Matthews,  the Charlottesville based national performer. Dave was on vacation in Sandbridge and came in by referral of some locals to check the band out. He partied with the band and amazed the crowd when he joined the Island Boy to perform one of his hit tracks What Would You Say.

The band has opened for the Little River Band on two different occasions and has fronted the Average White Band as well.

Reviews

"Don't buy 'Carry Out/Delivery' just because you want to support local musicians. Buy it because you trust Jimmy Buffett's judgment."
The Virginian-Pilot- Daily Break CD Review Jan 98

"An experienced band, they play notable venues and have even played alongside popular artist Dave Matthews."
CI Travel Cruise
International-Norfolk, Va.

"Wanted to say 'thank you' to the entire band and crew. You guys do a great job at entertaining our members. It is a pleasure to work with true professionals."
Curtis Musser, Canon of
Virginia - Newport News, Va.

"Every song felt like the first and people sang along with the band. Just watching them made my feet hurt. It was inspirational."
Christy Merril, "The Beacon" - Oct 1997

"I really do want to extend my sincerest congratulations on 'Island Boy' becoming published. The CD is great. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
Jeff Schilling (Blues Artist/Songwriter) -
Norfolk, Va. 1998

"I've seen these guys work a crowd into a frenzy. And when I sat in to play a few songs, it was easy to see why: 'they are so damn funky'!"
Tim Buppert (Major Label Songwriter/Recording Artist) -
Nashville, Tn.

"I was blown away by there cutting-edge rythmn in a live setting. The vocalists and instrumentalists alike put their soul into every number they perform."
Mark Kent (Minister of Music-Believers'
Baptist Church) - 1999

"Recording them was an engineers holiday. They knew what they wanted and let me do my job. Made for a great recording and a great time."
Al Gwaltney Jr. (CEO/Engineer-Amerisound Studio) - Oct 1997

Island Boy is about as LIVE as it gets in Hampton Roads.  The band has been around for decades in one form or another and has a BIG following.”                                                      Linda McNatt-The Va Pilot March 2002

 

visit our website:

http://home.aol.com/islandboyband