Fungi is the name given to the local musical form of the British Virgin Islands. Fungi music is an expression of British Virgin Islands culture as it shows the island’s African and the European influences in a unique sound known only as fungi. The name fungi comes from the local cornmeal dish called fungi.
Fungi is a cornmeal based food which is made with different ingredients ranging from okra to onions, green peppers and is sometimes done plain. This “cook up” which is a savoury fusion of different makes something new and delicious; that is what fungi music is all about.
A fungi band is based on the fusion of a wide range of instruments, many of which are homemade. The beat of the double bass is the base of a colourful mix of sounds and instruments; for this reason fungi music is an experience all its own.
The components of a fungi band or “scratch band” include:
Ukulele
Banjo
Bongos
Guitar
Double Bass or Bass Guitar
Keyboard
Calabash
Washboard
Triangle
Saxophone
Themes
Themes explored in fungi music include:
Love and Relationships
Folk Lore which is the basis of BVI Oral history on topics ranging from church life to smuggling rum.
Current Events and Social Commentary
Mood
Mood and Atmosphere:
Very festive, sometimes humorous
Fungi music is made for dancing
Fungi bands perform at a variety of events including:
Weddings
Full Moon Parties
Festivals
Restaurants/Hotels
There is a definite melody and rhythm and the lyrics are meaningful as the songs tell stories from the past. These stories are reminders of the life the people of the BVI lived. Fungi music is popular during such events as the BVI Music Festival and fungi is taught in schools and is a part of the school curriculum.
Fungi Artists
Notable fungi artists are BVI educator turned politician the Hon. Elmore Stoutt who is regarded as the Fungi Master and the legendary Lashing Dogs.
The Virgin Islands are partially controlled by the United Kingdom and the United States, and have had long-standing cultural ties to the island nations to the south as well as to various European colonialists. ...
References
↑ Music of the British Virign Islands: Fungi. Retrieved on November 3, 2006.
The band, originally called The ScratchBand, was formed in the late 1970s in Sacramento, California by Roe, and keyboardist Mark Tootle[?], bassist Jan Eric Volz[?] and drummer Mark Proctor[?].
Proctor left the band and was replaced by former drummer for The Temptations, Aaron Smith.
The band's biggest hit single was "The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes and the Pride of Life" from their 1987 Island Records release, The 77s.
The band was Scratch Acid, and the term "legend" isn't entirely inappropriate.
The original Scratch Acid lineup began in the late fall of '81 with Yow, Washam, Sims and Bradford, with Anderson on vocals.
No stage, the band was in a corner, and during the whole performance the crowd was surging and bumping into Scratch Acid, and they attacked the crowd back.
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