Pyrographic Drawings
on Coconut Keepsake/Snack Serving Bowls
Bowls and Pyrography (Wood-burning Art)
by Tony Fernandes - TonFerns Creations
THE GEMINI FOUR –
The First Beat Group in the U.A.E.
It was way back in the early seventies that I heard about a pop music band called Gemini 4 that comprised of 4 young lads. It was the first beat group at a time when the place was known as the Trucial States of Oman.
I worked in Abu Dhabi at that time. Three of my young friends had formed an amateur beat group, and I was a novice in their band being the fourth. But the instruments that we wanted were not available in Abu Dhabi during those days then. So one fine weekend my friends and I decided to travel all the way to Sharjah, one of the seven Sheikhdoms, where we were told to meet an agent called Mr. Carvalho, who directly imported Hofner guitars from Germany. Mr. Carvalho also owned a tailoring shop. Having purchased a Hofner Galaxy rhythm guitar, a Hofner bass guitar and a Hofner amplifer RV50 from Carvalho, we left the equipment at a friend’s house there. At the same time we had also decided to take the opportunity to hear the beat group called Gemini 4 while we were in Sharjah over the weekend.
Having nothing much to do early that evening, my friends and I decided to go for a walk along the narrow road by the Sharjah Creek, pausing to watch the dhows continue to load and unload their cargo until after sunset. It was then that we thought we should go back to our friend’s house and relax for a while before proceeding to hear out this band that everyone in Abu Dhabi spoke so highly about.
The venue that this beat group played at was then known as ‘Sea Face Hotel’ - a structure that was converted from an imposing old fort with rooms, a sprawling courtyard and a night-club attached. It was located along the wharf, facing the entrance of the Sharjah creek. Having been told that it was not so far away from the place where we were supposed to stay for the night, we decided to walk to this hotel. In our attempt to take a short cut we trudged through the dark lanes in ankle deep sand for about half a kilometer, and finally arrived at the venue nearly exhausted. Taking a deep breath, my friends and I made our way through the gates, and just as we were about to enter the night club, I saw a tall man at the door just to make sure the right type of people were entering the club. We sat at our tables and ordered a round of drinks. After some time the same tall man at the gate approached the stage, picked up a guitar, joined the band and started playing.
The band played the current hits of the time. One song that was a huge and raging hit was ‘Happy Together’ by the Turtles, and it was in this night club at that great splendid evening that I heard the first cover version of the song by the Gemini Four. Other hits included Scot McKenzie’s ‘San Francisco’ (Be sure to wear flowers in your hair), Marmalades’ ‘Ob la di, ob la da’, Booker T & the MGs' Time is Right, Bee Gees’ ‘Don’t Forget to Remember Me’ and the best 'Shadows' and 'Ventures' music ever!
Making the group of four were the lead guitarist, rhythm guitarist/singer, bass guitarist and a drummer.
The new Sea Face Hotel was later opened along the main street called Al Arooba Street where the Gemini Four continued playing in the following years.
In the mid seventies I moved to Dubai, then known as United Arab Emirates, where I heard them play at several shows, like Christmas, New Year, Easter and May Queen Ball, Autumn Ball, Weddings and other events.
That was forty years ago. And I have not "forgotten to remember" this wonderful foursome bunch of musicians of the fabulous days of my youth. Those were indeed the days my friends.
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However, having said all this so far, I would like to remember, pay due respect and mention here that the original drummer of the Gemini Four was Victor Albuquerque. Unfortunately, I am sorry to mention as a tribute here that he died in a tragic road accident on 18th April 1969. May his soul rest in eternal peace. His brother Ray replaced him until Ersel joined the band.
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As uncanny as it can get - 'the tall man at the gate' and the tall man who picked the guitar and started playing was the same man - none other than the lead guitarist Edgar Valentine, who on a visit to Canada 40 years later, came over to our place in Mississauga with our friend Lino, with a guitar and played lead along with a back-up track of 'The Shadows' at our place (which he had brought with him saved on a stick) and played through my DJ Music system.
