Eric Adley

A drummer, singer and folk researcher from Grace, Vieux Fort, he was instrumental in assuring the oral-recorded tradition continuum.  Adley travelled extensively throughout the countryside in search of folk music traditions and scrupulously recorded them for posterity.  He formed the Mount Gallion Folk Singers and partnered with famed musician Rameau Poleon.  In 1972 Adley represented St Lucia at the first ever Carifesta event to perform the music for Roderick Walcott’s Banjo Man.  The work was received to great acclaim and he continued to represent St Lucia at various regional events over the years.  Adley worked with the Hewanorra Singers and the Helenites, an asset to both groups as he was possessed of a strong bass voice that was hard to come by.  He was a career civil servant in the Ministry of Finance and had served as infantry in WWII.  His passion always was music.