This year is a special one for Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights because it marks their 40th anniversary of performing the Virgin Islands’ indigenous music of quelbe throughout the world. Often referred to as “the premier quelbe band in the world,” and a “Virgin Islands treasure,” the band holds true to the belief that it is its responsibility to showcase the beautiful rhythms that have come to be known as the Virgin Islands’ own. Attend almost any quadrille dance, senior citizen function or cultural presentation in the territory and the group of musicians will be there. They got their start making music on St. Croix in 1970.
In 2003, the 25th Legislature of the Virgin Islands passed Bill No. 25-0056, which designates quelbe as the official music of the Virgin Islands and requires that it be taught in the public schools. As part of their community support, the Ten Sleepless Knights Inc. share their knowledge via sponsorship for the Quelbe Education Program at the St. Croix Educational Complex, in addition to providing annual scholarships to V.I. students pursuing a college degree in the arts. The band also supports the community through their funding and initiatives to assist the indigent mentally ill in receiving medications and services.
In celebration and commemoration of their 40 years of performance, the group is planning a series of special events geared to further showcase quelbe as the beloved art form of the Virgin Islands, as well as to assist in the organization’s fundraising to insure that the TSK scholarship programs continue. The group is tireless in its efforts to expose youth throughout the Virgin Islands to Quelbe music through appearances at public and private schools.
Confirmed 40th Year Commemoration events are as follows:
• Friday, July 2 – TSK Grand Emancipation Quadrille – St. Gerard’s Hall, Frederiksted
• Saturday, Sept. 4 – The TSK Grand 40th Anniversary Gala – The Palms, St. Croix ( a semi-formal (Crucian elegant) evening of dinner, concert, auction, dancing and presentation of the 2010 Stanley Awards)
• Sunday, Sept. 5 – TSK Classic (final arrangements pending) – Native Horse Race – Randall “Doc” James Racetrack.
• Sunday, Oct. 31 – The TSK Grand Quelbe Fest – Island Center, St. Croix (featuring quelbe, fungi and caraiso bands from throughout the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean. The date is selected to coincide with St. Croix’ cultural “Bull & Bread” Holiday and Election Day)
• Friday, Dec. 31 – Stanley & the Ten Sleepless Knights Rock the Dock Ol’ Years Night Celebration – Ann Abramson Pier, St. Croix
Unknown to many is the fact that the Ten Sleepless Knights is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, having contributed thousands of dollars back into the community over the years.
Although Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights are culture bearers and have dedicated themselves to the preservation of quelbe music, the group’s repertoire is quite diverse. The band plays music of almost every Caribbean flavor as well as some American music and have performed on the U.S. mainland and in Denmark.
While there have been a few changes in band members over the past four decades, most are original to the group. Current band members include: Stanley Jacobs, flute and band leader; Eldred "Edgie" Christian, vocalist and banjo-uke; Tino Francis, keyboards; Gilbert Hendricks, bass; Dr. Olaf "Bronco" Hendricks, saxophone; Kendall "KC" Henry, drums, steel and squash; Christian "Te" Thompson, congas; Harold Johnson, steel and squash; Dr. Lauren "Larry" Larsen, sound engineer for TSK; and, when necessary, plays drums, bass, steel, keyboards or squash.
